Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives (+pictures)

Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives
Goals: Ruslan Mingazov 33', Gahrymanberdi Chonkayev 80', Arslan Amanov 86' - Hassan Adhuham 20'

Kathmandu, Nepal: Turkmenistan came from a goal down to comfortably defeat the Maldives 3-1 on the opening day of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in a keenly contested match at Halchowk Stadium.

Turkmenistan dictated the early proceedings but it was the Maldives who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 16^th minute when David Sarkisov fouled Mohammed Umair, who fired the resulting free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard area just past the post.

The Maldives took a surprise lead against the run of a play in the 20^th minute when Riley Riwan's cross into the penalty area was mis-headed by Umidjan Astanov allowing Hasan Adhuham to latch onto the ball and score with his first international goal.

Turkmenistan came close levelling a minute later when Ruslan Mingazov missed from close range but the winger made amends in the 33^rd minute when he made it 1-1 after receiving Arslanmyrat Amanov's through ball.

The Central Asians came close to taking the lead with seven minutes of the first-half remaining when Maldives keeper Imran Mohammed made a superb save to deny Turkmenistan captain Berdy Shamuradov as the teams went into the break all square.

Turkmenistan upped the pressure in the second-half and came close four times in the space of five minutes but their efforts were thwarted by either good goalkeeping or brave defending.

However, their persistence finally paid off in the 78^th minute when substitute Gahryman Chonkayev scored with a brilliantly-struck free-kick, awarded after Imran Fazeel brought down Shohrat Soyunov about 20 yards from the Maldives goal.

Any hopes the Indian Ocean islanders harboured of making a comeback were dashed with nine minutes remaining when referee Yousef Al Marzouq red carded Ahmed Tariq and Turkmenistan made the most of their extra-man advantage when Amanov sealed the 3-1 win with a superb solo effort.


Turkmenistan coach Yazguly Hojageldiyev conceded that his side were a bit slow coming out of the trips following an arduous journey to Nepal and attributed their come-from-behind win to a change in tactics after the interval.
"We did not start the match well and for the first 20 minutes we were all over the pitch without any co-ordination," Hojageldiyev admitted.
"Maybe we were a bit lethargic after the long journey from Ashgabat but at half-time I spoke to the players and changed our strategy and we approached the second-half completely differently."
 (source: the-afc.com)

Turkmenistan start list:
Goalkeeper: Rahmanberdi Alyhanow
Defenders: Serdar Annaorazov, Shohrat Soyunov, Ahmet Atayev, David Sarkisov, Rahimberdi Batayev
Mid-fielders: Ruslan Mingazov, Nazar Choliyev (46 Guwanch Abylov), Umitjan Astanov
Forward: Arslan Amanov (88 Didar Durdiyev), Berdi Shamyradov (59 Gahrymanberdi Chonkayev)

Substitues:
Goalkeeper: Mamed Orazmuhammedov
Defenders: Hemayat Komekov, Gochguly Gochgulyyew, Guwanch Rejepov, Akmyrat Jumanazarov
Mid-fielders: Didar Durdiyev (88), Gahrymanberdi Chonkayev (59), Elman Tagayev
Forward: Guwanch Abylov (46)

Not eligible for Maldives match:
Midfielders: Bahtiyar Hojaahmedov, Guwanch Hangeldiyev

Coach: Yazguly Hojageldiyev
Team Manager Konstantin Grigoryants

group's other match was between Nepal and Palestin. Result: Palestine 2-0 Nepal


all results:
March 8,
Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives
Palestine 2-0 Nepal


March 10,
Turkmenistan - Palestine
Nepal - Maldives


March 12,
Turkmenistan - Nepal
Maldives - Palestine


Group Table:
1. Turkmenistan 3 points 
2. Palestine 3 points
3. Maldives 0 points
4. Nepal 0 points

Serdar Annaorazov 12 and David Sarkisov 23

Turkmenistan's captain Berdi Shamyradov

Ahmet Atayev 19

Ruslan Mingazov 6