Pakistan fail to score in 0-0 draw with Sri Lanka

by our correspondent

Pakistan’s quest for the AFC U22 Asian Cup qualifiers took a huge blow when they fail to score past Sri Lanka in their scoreless second Group B game tonight, 25 June 2012, at Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.

Pakistan began the game in aggressive mood as they dominated possession and forced as many as 8 corners and 5 shots on target in the 1st half. Sri Lankan defence was over-stretched in the 45 minutes but Pakistan failed to find the back of the net as poor finishing haunted the Greens again. Sri Lanka could barely managed 2 corners and 1 shot on target in the 1st half.

The 2nd half saw Sri Lanka press Pakistan more as they had a few shots on goal and won a series of corner without really testing goalkeeper Saqib Hanif. But Pakistan failed to maintain momentum as Sri Lanka’s defence frustrated them even more with only 2 shots on target being possible in 2nd half.

The result leaves Zavisa Milosavljevic’s boys disappointed as they were confident of a win in the game but poor finishing proved to be their bane once again. The result leave Pakistan in 5th place with 1 point from 2 games, after their hard-worked 0-1 loss at the hands of Saudi Arabia on 23 June.

In other Group B games, Saudi Arabia earned a late 1-0 win against Kyrgyzstan while Syria came from behind to beat Palestine 2-1. Ibrahim Jalayta opened the scoring for Palestine after 20 minutes with the prospect seeming good for the Palestinians at the break but then midfielder Kharbin’s first strike came just five minutes after coming on the field on the 52ndminute, before sending home his second seven minutes before full time to seal the win for the Syrians.

Saudi Arabia were also helped by a substitute, Mohammed Yahya Majrashi, whose stoppage time strike helped them overcome Kyrgyzstan 1-0, having been sent in to the field by coach Khalid Abdulrahman Alkoroni late in the 81st minute.

Pakistan now face Kyrgyzstan in their next AFC U22 qualifier at King Faisal International Stadium on 28 June at 10:45 PM PST kick-off.

More match details to follow.

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Syria 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6
 Saudi Arabia 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 6
 Sri Lanka 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2
 Palestine 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
 Pakistan 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
 Kyrgyzstan 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0

AFC U-22 CHAMPIONSHIP 2013

QUALIFICATION
25-06-2012 20:45 AST
Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA 110
PAKISTAN 0 0 1st Half 0 0 SRI LANKA
0 2nd Half 0
Ext. Time
Penalty Kick
90 minutes ADIL
Warm and clear 33 C

Lineups

PAKISTAN SRI LANKA
1 GK SAQIB HANIF
2 MF FAISAL IQBAL
6 MF JUNAID QADIR 87 86
7 MF BILAWAL-UR-REHMAN
10 MF KALEEMULLAH (C)
13 DF AHSANULLAH
15 DF NAVEED
17 DF SADDAM HUSSAIN
21 MF ADIL
27 FW MUHAMMAD 77
44 FW RIAZ AHMED 56
2 MF CHARLES
5 DF SAMEER
6 DF KAMEEL
7 FW LIYANA ARACHCHILAGE NIPUNA DEWINDA BANDARA (C) 66
9 FW MANJULA PRASANNA 31
10 FW LANDA HEWAGE KAVIDU ISHAN 4
13 FW SANJEEWA
17 MF ALEEM 66
19 FW MOHOMED FARHAD MOHOMED SHUFHIN
25 GK SUJAN
28 MF ARIYAWANSA GAMLATHGE ERANDA PRESAD
Substitutes
3 DF MANZOOR AHMAD
8 MF MAHMOOD KHAN
9 MF SHER 87
14 FW ZAKIR LASHARI 56
16 FW RASHID ALI 77
18 MF MOHSIN ALI
20 DF NOOR MUHAMMAD
22 GK MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN
23 MF IMRAN ALI KHAN
26 DF AMIR SIDDIQUI
31 MF DAHAR ABDUL UR REHMAN BAIG
33 GK TANVEER
1 GK DON DASUN PRADEEP PARANAWITHANA PARANAWITHANAGE
3 FW KURUKULASURIYA NICULAS HARSHA FERNANDO
4 DF MOHAMED RAMLAN
11 DF ANGELO FERNANDO
16 FW CHALANA CHAMEERA
18 MF ERANGA 31
22 GK WASIM
30 FW HASHAN DHARSHAKA
31 FW DANANJU MADUSHAN 66
Not Eligible
Not Playing
Team Officials
ZAVISA MILOSAVLJEVIC (Head Coach)
WICKRAMASINGHE W. N. S. W. (Team Manager)
KOLONNAGE MAYURA SAMPATH PERERA (Head Coach)
Referee
KURBANOV CHARYMURAT (TURKMENISTAN)
Assistant Referees
IGOR (TURKMENISTAN)
GURBANOV SAPARMAMMET (TURKMENISTAN)
Fourth Official
SHAMSUZZAMAN HASAN TAYEB (BANGLADESH)
Fifth Official
Match Commissioner
HAMED MOMENI (I.R. IRAN)
Legend:
Goals Own goal Penalties Missed Penalties Red Cards YellowCards
2nd Yellow (Red card) Substitution