Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Taipei: Turkmenistan began their quest for a place at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 finals on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei in the opening game of Group E despite finishing the game with ten men.
Yazguly Hojageldiyev’s side dominated the first 45 minutes and picked up a win that puts them on top of the group, which also features Bahrain and Singapore, who will meet on Tuesday at the Bahrain National Stadium.
Turkmenistan, who secured their only previous appearance at the AFC Asian Cup finals in China in 2004, were in the ascendancy throughout the opening exchanges and it came as little surprise when the Central Asian side went in front.
Altymyrat Annadurdyyev gave his side the lead in the 23rd minute when his deflected shot from inside the area looped into the air and over Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Chiu Yu-hung to nestle in the back of the net.
Turkmenistan doubled their advantage less than a minute later after Bahtiyar Hojaahmedov started the move from inside his own half that resulted in Ruslan Mingazov nudging the ball into the goal from close range.
Chinese Taipei, however, were given a lifeline in the third minute of injury time when Chu En-le was tripped in the penalty area to allow Chen Po-liang to convert from the spot, with his penalty sending the Turkmenistan goalkeeper the wrong way.
Turkmenistan restored their two-goal cushion seven minutes from time when Chen Chia-chun put the ball into his own net from close range before Mingazov was sent off in the dying minutes for a second bookable offence that left the Central Asian side to hold on to claim the win.
Photo: Joshua Ho