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2010 AFC Challenge Cup: Turkmenistan Reach Last Four After Narrow Win Over Kyrgyzstan
The Turkmen won the battle of the Central Asians..
21-Feb-2010 5:09:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
Turkmenistan have qualified for the semi-finals as Group B runners-up after a hard fought 1-0 win over neighbours Kyrgyzstan on Sunday afternoon.
Defender Begli Nurmuradov scored the only goal of the game in the second half.
Turkmenistan only needed a point to go through to the semis while for Kyrgyzstan this game was a must win.
The early stages belonged to Turkmenistan and they nearly took the lead inside the first five minutes when star striker Berdy Shamuradov executed a spectacular volley but it was somehow cleared off the line by Kyrgyzstan defender Faruh Abitov.
In the 13th minute, Kyrgyzstan almost took the lead against the run of play when a poor clearance from Turkmenistan goalkeeper Bayrambiyaz Berdiyev fell kindly for Pavel Sidorenko but the winger failed to hit the target.
Kyrgyzstan came close again midway through the first period when Sidorenko’s free-kick took a touch off Turkmenistan’s David Sarkisov and hit the crossbar.
Suddenly chances were being created at both ends making it a very entertaining contest.
Turkmenistan striker Shamuradov was the next to come close as his powerful low shot produced a good save off Kyrgyzstan keeper Vladislav Volkov.
At the other end Almazbek Mirzaliev tried his luck from distance but missed the target by a few inches.
Neither team could score before the break but it was by no means a dull goalless half.
The second half saw a bit more ambition from both teams but opportunities were only coming from set pieces.
Arslanmyrat Amanov came close for Turkmenistan from a freekick, which was won just outside the box, and for Kyrgyzstan Azamat Baimatov found himself free in the box from a corner but headed his effort wide.
As the second half progressed both Central Asian teams started to tire a bit and it was looking like only an individual brilliance or a mistake will break the deadlock.
In the 70th minute, it was a moment of magic that produced the first and only goal of the match and it came from the foot of Turkmenistan defender Begli Nurmuradov.
Nurmaradov showed sheer class to curl home a freekick over the Kyrgyzstan wall and well past keeper Volkov.
Kyrgyzstan could have hit back immediately and that too from a freekick but Turkmenistan keeper Berdiyev showed great reflexes to keep out Anton Zemlianuhin’s effort.
There were very few chances after that as Turkmenistan held on for the win to book their place in the semis, where they will face Group A winners Tajikistan.
Goalscorer: Begli Nurmuradov 70’
Defender Begli Nurmuradov scored the only goal of the game in the second half.
Turkmenistan only needed a point to go through to the semis while for Kyrgyzstan this game was a must win.
The early stages belonged to Turkmenistan and they nearly took the lead inside the first five minutes when star striker Berdy Shamuradov executed a spectacular volley but it was somehow cleared off the line by Kyrgyzstan defender Faruh Abitov.
In the 13th minute, Kyrgyzstan almost took the lead against the run of play when a poor clearance from Turkmenistan goalkeeper Bayrambiyaz Berdiyev fell kindly for Pavel Sidorenko but the winger failed to hit the target.
Kyrgyzstan came close again midway through the first period when Sidorenko’s free-kick took a touch off Turkmenistan’s David Sarkisov and hit the crossbar.
Suddenly chances were being created at both ends making it a very entertaining contest.
Turkmenistan striker Shamuradov was the next to come close as his powerful low shot produced a good save off Kyrgyzstan keeper Vladislav Volkov.
At the other end Almazbek Mirzaliev tried his luck from distance but missed the target by a few inches.
Neither team could score before the break but it was by no means a dull goalless half.
The second half saw a bit more ambition from both teams but opportunities were only coming from set pieces.
Arslanmyrat Amanov came close for Turkmenistan from a freekick, which was won just outside the box, and for Kyrgyzstan Azamat Baimatov found himself free in the box from a corner but headed his effort wide.
As the second half progressed both Central Asian teams started to tire a bit and it was looking like only an individual brilliance or a mistake will break the deadlock.
In the 70th minute, it was a moment of magic that produced the first and only goal of the match and it came from the foot of Turkmenistan defender Begli Nurmuradov.
Nurmaradov showed sheer class to curl home a freekick over the Kyrgyzstan wall and well past keeper Volkov.
Kyrgyzstan could have hit back immediately and that too from a freekick but Turkmenistan keeper Berdiyev showed great reflexes to keep out Anton Zemlianuhin’s effort.
There were very few chances after that as Turkmenistan held on for the win to book their place in the semis, where they will face Group A winners Tajikistan.
Goalscorer: Begli Nurmuradov 70’
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