Gallant Lankans go down to Saudi

Saudi Arabia (KSA)

3:0 (2:0)

Sri Lanka (SRI)

Sri Lankan soccerites after a gallant performance went down to the Saudi Arabia team by three goals to nil in the second leg of the "World Cup 2004 Germany" qualifying round game played in Saudi Arabia on Nov 17.

Lankan soccerites who lost the first leg one nil in Sri Lanka, had to face the Saudi team in Damam this time.The predictions this time was for Saudi to score anything over five goals. But it became only a dream as the Lankans put up a good defence to halt the Saudi team to only three goals.

This is a commendable achievement for the Lankans who have come a long way up the ladder. The new coach Sampath Perera was a happy man because his boys kept the lion flag flying high.

Confident Saudi team used the home advantage to its maximum and went ahead in the fifth minute. The goal coming off the boot of Saudi Al Zahrani. From this stage onwards the Sri Lankans defended strongly and never allowed the opponents to find the net for the balance forty minutes.

But bad luck crept Lankans way when referee found a player making a faulty tackle inside the box and awarded a penalty. Saudi tem made good use to further their lead when Mohamed Al Shalhood netted in the goal.

Teams left the field with the scoreboard reading 2-0 in favour of hosts, Saudi team.

After the turn around the Lankans did everything to stall the scoring of Saudi team. This they did for almost twenty minutes. Hassan Fallatah in the 66th minute netted the third goal. Saudi who are the strongest team in this qualifying Group eight could not add any more to their score as Lankans never let the home team to reach the goal area with a strong time of defence led by skipper Dudley Steinwall. With this victory the hosts Saudi Arabia qualified for second qualifying round in Asian Region.

Full credit to Lankan team and the coach for racing the rankings in the Asian Region standings.

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