Mittwoch 05.04

CHITTAGONG: India and Chinese Taipei played a goalless draw in their final Group A game to qualify for the quarter-finals of the AFC Challenge Cup here at the MA Aziz Stadium on Wednesday. Both have five points each but India top the group on the basis of better goal difference.

The teams started cautiously with Chinese Taipei getting the first crack at the goal in the fifth minute with Hung-Hsu Tai leading the move in a counter attack. His shot, however, parried out by Indian goalkeeper Paul Shilton.

The East Asian side was again on the move in the 23rd minute but midfielder Fu Hsiang Chang’s lob sailed over the bar. Indian substitute Pachuau Lalawmpuia’s shot on a N Pradeep cross in the 34th minute went wide.

Eleven minutes after the restart, Shilton again made a brilliant save on Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Lun Chuang shot while Indian Ong Tshering Lepcha was off the mark in the last minute of the game.

Both the teams were reduced to 10-man in the 71st minute when Indian

midfielder Hamar Lalmalsawma and Chinese Taipei’s defender Yung-Jen Cheng were redcarded after they had a scuffle over ball possession.

Indian coach Islam Akhmedov said: “I can’t talk about quality of football today but I am happy with the result. Our strategy was to defend and secure at least a draw today.”

Chinese Taipei’s Japanese coach Toshiaki Imai was not happy with his

players’ show but expressed his satisfaction over the result.

[[winkewinke]] [[grin]]
 
DHAKA: Rain and storm on the second consecutive day abandoned the AFC Challenge Cup Group C match between Cambodia and Guam at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Both the teams were goalless when the play was stopped in the 39th minute due to unplayable conditions. Decision to decide the replay date of this match will be taken tonight.