Sri Lanka through to AFC Challenge Cup 2008 Finals
6 April 2008
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Sri Lanka scraped into the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 Finals after drawing their last Group A qualifying encounter against hosts Chinese Taipei 2-2 here at the Chungshan Stadium on Sunday.
Sri Lanka went into the match under pressure after Pakistan’s 9-2 rout of Guam earlier in the evening but only a defeat by a four-goal margin to their rivals would have jeopardised their chances of securing a berth in the July 30-August 10 competition in Hyderabad , India.
In the event, Chang Han gave Chen Sing-an’s team the lead in the 29th minute but an own goal by Chen Po-liang pegged them back in the 59th minute. A 74th minute strike by captain Tsa Hsien-tang looked to have put the hosts in with a slender chance for an upset but Sri Lankan star striker Weerarathna Jayasuriya found the net four minutes before the final whistle to ensure a point for the 2006 runners-up and a place in the finals.
Sri Lanka ended their campaign with seven points, followed by Pakistan on six and Chinese Taipei two points further behind. Guam were rooted to the foot of the table without a single point. |
Pakistan were fired into the lead against hapless Guam by Jamshed Anwar in the ninth minute lead before he added another nine minutes later. Farooq Shah made it 3-0 for the South Asians in the 28th minute and Qasim Muhammad enhanced the lead to 4-0 on the stroke of half-time. Tanveer Ahmed struck another in the 62nd minute and three minutes later Zahid Hameed converted a penalty to make it 6-0.
Qasim completed his hat-trick with more goals in the 72nd and 82nd minutes. The rout was completed in the 85th minute by Abdul Rehman. Guam ’s only goal was scored by James Pangelinan while an own goal by Pakistani custodian Ahmed Iltaf in the 80th minute added to their tally.
Sri Lanka will be joined by the toppers of B, C and D qualifying groups for the finals which will also feature DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, hosts India and Myanmar as direct entrants.
The winners of the 2008 and 2010 editions of the AFC Challenge Cup qualify directly for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar.
