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

Group B

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 52^ndminute, 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 81^st 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.

Penalty Kick

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

	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