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Kasun bangs in hat-trick as Lanka down Brunei 5-1 |
| By Namal Pathirage |
Sri Lanka gave a promising start to the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round football encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium last evening when they drubbed Brunei 5-1. At the breather Sri Lanka had gained an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Sri Lanka’s former skipper Kasun Jayasuriya gave a superlative performance when he banged four goals. He received maximum support from the rest of the team mates enabling him to give the home team a fantastic start.
Kasun’s goals came in the 25th minute of the first half. The second goal was booted in by Asmir Ali after a short dribble. The rest of the goals came in the second half in the 53rd minute, 66th and in the 72nd minute, giving Kasun Perera a glorious hat-trick.
However it was Brunei who scored first when Arfin Ramlee converted a penalty kick with telling effect. However Sri Lanka settled down to play an attacking role and then tore the Brunei defence to shreds with methodical passing.
Sri Lanka need not be pleased with their performance as they could have netted in several goals but missed them at crucial stages.
This is the first time that a team from Brunei has played on our soil and according to FIFA world rankings Brunei are placed 183 rd in the world and Sri Lanka are in 164th place. Sri Lanka’s next game will be on April 6 when they take on Chinese Taipei at 6.30 pm and on April 8 Sri Lanka will confront strong contenders Pakistan also at 6.30 pm.
The game against Pakistan is expected to be closely fought out as Pakistan is placed 166th according to FIFA rankings.
This competition which is being worked off on a league basis will have its champions taking part in the AFC Challenge Shield final round in November next year at a venue to be decided shortly.
* In the second match played yesterday Pakistan held Chinese Taipei 1-all.
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