Lions of Khurasan Qualifies for the Challenge Cup

Afghanistan drew 1-1 with Laos after a hard fight yesterday. Afghanistan qualified to the final stage of the AFC Challenge Cup with 7 points. Afghanistan headed to the match with Laos with 6 points from the two earlier group matches with Sri Lanka and Mongolia, while Laos had 4 points following a draw with Mongolia and a victory over Sri Lanka. Both teams knew a draw would send Afghanistan through, while Laos needed a victory. 

The Lions of Khurasan started the matched on a brighter note a completely controlled the ball within the first 12 minutes not allowing Laos to come close to the Afghanistan net. The match gradually changed to a balanced affair. 18 minutes passed the match, Djalaluddin Sharityar, the Afghan captain, was shown a yellow card which was not really necessary to give. 

While Afghanistan had better control over the ball and Balal Arezou missed a one on one opportunity, Laos scored a goal after the Afghan keeper came out of the post to clear a cheap ball. It was a shock for Afghanistan, but they continued to press until the referee showed the second yellow card to the Afghan captain and asked him to march out of the field. The decision was not welcomed by the Afghan players and the coach who was also sent off after serious protest against the decision of the referee.

Jawad Attayee, the Assistant Coach, then stepped up to guide the team, a team that was very disappointed at half time. Afghanistan made a change at the beginning of the second half. Salim Kohistani who appeared very weak in this match was replaced by a defender, Ali Ahmad Yarzada. 10 man Afghanistan, however, started to attack and was solid in defense. Eventually the efforts of Afghan team paid off at minute 58 when Mustafa Azadzoy grabbed a ball from the Laos defenders and fired on the goal. Azadzoy's shot did not result to a goal but Arash Hatifi made sure the reversed ball was inside the net through a narrow angle. 

The goal energized the Afghan team and gave them the moral they needed. Five minutes after the Afghan team scored, Attayee decided to replace the charismatic goal scorer, Belal Arezou with Munirulhaq Nadim, as Belal looked tired in the field. Another change was made in the middle field when Mashriqi came it to replace Sandjar Ahmadi in minute 80. 

Despite some attemps from both sides, the match ended in a draw and ultimate qualification of Afghanistan to the Challenge Cup. The Afghan players and coaching erupted in joy and dance after the draw with a wave of happiness and congratulation messages on Facebook and local media. 

With 7 points, Afghanistan is through to the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup where it will compete with 7 other nations from Asia. The winner of the 2014 tournament will make it to the Asia Cup in 2015.