SL beat Pakistan in opening match
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Sri Lanka made a good start in the 6th Bangabandhu SAFF Championship beating rough and tough Pakistan by a solitary goal in the opening match of the 8-nation meet at the country's premier sports venue Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city Friday, reports UNB.
Medio Chathura Gunaratne scored the match-winning goal for the Island nation in the 24th minute of the match from a penalty.
Referee Al Hosni Ibrahim from Oman awarded the spot kick in favour of Sri Lanka as Pakistan custodian Jaffar Khan fouled onrushing Chathura Gunaratne in the danger zone.
Pakistan team, trained by Austrian coach George Kottan, played better with their attacking football, but finally succumbed to Sri Lanka strategy, which played defensive football all through in the 2nd half after taking 1-0 lead in the first half.
Sri Lanka were restricted to 10 men in the 79th minute when their defender Dumida Wasanthaka got the marching order after receiving 2nd yellow card and in the next minute were reduced to nine men as Prodeep Kumar received the red card.
Pakistan dominated the entire proceedings but failed to take the fruit despite getting a spot kick in the dying moment of the match.
Pakistani striker Adnan Farooq Ahmed took the penalty kick but his powerful shot sailed harmlessly over the cross bar leaving the Pakistani fans in despair.
Earlier, in the first half, Arif Mahmood managed two good chances in the 15th and 20th minutes, but failed to score from vantage position.
"Of course, it's a very sad day for us. We didn't win the match despite playing good football," Pakistani coach George Kottan said the reporters at a post-match briefing.
"Anything can happen in a match… still we've a chance to reach the semifinal," he said.
Sri Lankan trainer Sumith Walpola said the match was very tough for them, as Pakistan dominated the match.
He admitted that they were lucky to be finally able to notch the victory despite reduced to nine men in the dying moment.
Red Cards: Dimudu W Hettiarachchi and Sanjaya Pradeep Kumara (Sri Lanka).
Medio Chathura Gunaratne scored the match-winning goal for the Island nation in the 24th minute of the match from a penalty.
Referee Al Hosni Ibrahim from Oman awarded the spot kick in favour of Sri Lanka as Pakistan custodian Jaffar Khan fouled onrushing Chathura Gunaratne in the danger zone.
Pakistan team, trained by Austrian coach George Kottan, played better with their attacking football, but finally succumbed to Sri Lanka strategy, which played defensive football all through in the 2nd half after taking 1-0 lead in the first half.
Sri Lanka were restricted to 10 men in the 79th minute when their defender Dumida Wasanthaka got the marching order after receiving 2nd yellow card and in the next minute were reduced to nine men as Prodeep Kumar received the red card.
Pakistan dominated the entire proceedings but failed to take the fruit despite getting a spot kick in the dying moment of the match.
Pakistani striker Adnan Farooq Ahmed took the penalty kick but his powerful shot sailed harmlessly over the cross bar leaving the Pakistani fans in despair.
Earlier, in the first half, Arif Mahmood managed two good chances in the 15th and 20th minutes, but failed to score from vantage position.
"Of course, it's a very sad day for us. We didn't win the match despite playing good football," Pakistani coach George Kottan said the reporters at a post-match briefing.
"Anything can happen in a match… still we've a chance to reach the semifinal," he said.
Sri Lankan trainer Sumith Walpola said the match was very tough for them, as Pakistan dominated the match.
He admitted that they were lucky to be finally able to notch the victory despite reduced to nine men in the dying moment.
Red Cards: Dimudu W Hettiarachchi and Sanjaya Pradeep Kumara (Sri Lanka).