A lone goal from Hadid Mustafa in the 82nd minute rekindled Afghanistan´s hopes to qualify for the next round after having suffered defeat in the first match against the hosts Nepal by the same scoreline. Sri Lanka on the other hand are out of competition with their second defeat in the qualifiers.[break]
Mustafa scored from close range after Sri Lankan goalie Manjula failed to hold the ball shot by Afghani player Israfeel Kohistani at APF Ground, Halchowk.
Afghanistan started their lineup with an attacking formation while Sri Lankan were in a defensive formation. Afghanistan went close to take lead in nine minutes as Zohib Islam header in Mohammad Sediq Walizada cross skied off the bar.
Walizada failed to score in the open post in the 18th minute after dribbling the ball past two Sri Lankan defenders and goalkeeper as his shot went wide.
In the 26th minute, Sri Lanka´s chance to take lead was shattered by Afghan goalie Mansur Faqiryar. Anurudda Warakagoda´s powerful shot from 18 yards was punched above the bar by Faqiryar with difficulty.
Sri Lanka had a chance to score in the 40th minutes but the long shot of Nadeeka Handi went above the bar.
But the Sri Lankans were able to hold physically and technically sound Afghani players throughout the first half and went into the break with goalless draw.
In the second half, Afghanistan were charged up and attacked the Lankan post but were not successful until the 82nd minute. Mustafa´s shot sailed above the bar in the 63rd minute.
Afghanistan coach Mohammad Yousuf Kargar said that his boys played well but the strikers could not utilize the chances. “We had planned differently for the second half and the boys succeeded in scoring.”
Sri Lanka´s South Korean coach Jang Jung said that he was satisfied with the performance of the young players. “We are here to develop the skills of the young players and we will give our best for the next match against the hosts Nepal.”
When asked about the next match of Afghanistan, Afghan coach Kargar added that they have different strategy for the match. “We had not played football for many years and my squad is full of young players, despite all these we will give tough challenge to DPR Korea.”
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