With the win, Turkmenistan finished group stage campaign as the winner of group A on the basis of goal difference despite having equal seven points as that of second placed Palestine which defeated the Maldives 2-0 to qualify for semifinal as the runner up. [break]
South Asian neighbor The Maldives finished third with three points in the four team group.
In Monday´s match, Nepal once again failed to put up a spirited show and came under dominance from the start to finish. Tagayev Elman and substitute Hangeldiyev Guvanch scored the first and third goal for visiting side in either half. Nepal´s defender Biraj Maharjan hit own goal to allow Turkmenistan 2-0 lead.
Turkmenistan´s coach Hojageldiyev Yazguly expressed happiness for finishing the group stage at the top of points table. "We are happy to qualify for the semifinal as winner of the group," Yazguly said, adding, "The condition of the playground was better than where we played our first two matches." Turkmenistan had played their initial two matches at the Halchowk ground.
In the one sided match, Elman opened scoring for Turkmenistan as early as seventh minute from close range when he tapped in Amanov Arslanymrat pass to stun Nepali team.
Nepali defender Biraj Maharjan made it 2-0 for the visitor in a bid to defend Gahryman Chonkayev´s shot from the box. The ball entered the net following deflection at Maharjan´s leg. Substitute Guvanch, a 60th minute replacement of Amanov Arslanymrat, sealed the victory five minutes from time with a tight angle shot from the area.
Turkmenistan piled up consistent pressure from the start to finish and made nearly half a dozen post attempts while Nepal failed to create single attractive move.
Turkmenistan´s three post attempts hit the woodwork including 20th minute semi-volley of Gahryman Chonkayev which rebounded hitting pole following deflection at goalie Kiran Chemjong hand. In the 39th minute, Nazar Choliyev´s header deflected from inner edge of the bar and in the 59th minute, Elman´s strike faced similar fate.
Nepal made a few attempts to the post in the second half but all in vain. Santosh Sahukhala missed twin scoring chances in the 58th and 60th minutes. In the 58th minute, Sahukhala failed to connect Bharat Khawas´ pass in close range and two minutes later he hit wide in one-on-one with advancing goalie Alyhanov Rahmanberdi. In the 70th minute, Khawas fired above bar from the edge of the box.
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