Kuching: Coach Toshiaki Imai admitted his team were fortunate to pick up a 2-0 win over Sri Lanka in their AFC Solidarity Cup Malaysia 2016 Group B meeting on Sunday evening that left the Mongolians on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Nyamosor Naranbold scored twice from the penalty spot in the second half to give Mongolia all three points and leave his side needing only a draw from Wednesday’s meeting with Laos to advance to the last four.
“We had some luck and we got two goals by penalties but I think our players showed the better play I think,” said Mongolia’s Japanese coach. “The Mongolia team is a young team and they have a very good fighting spirit.
“I think our players have very little experience of international football, so they have a good opportunity to go further but they need to be calm. When they play too quickly they make mistakes.”
Naranbold scored his first penalty in the 50th minute when his own shot hit the arm of Edison Figurado before converting in style after Sri Lanka had had the better of the chances in the first period.
Sixteen minutes later Dumidu Wasanthaka’s foul on Battur Davaajav saw referee Muhammad Nazmi Nasaruddin point to the spot again and Naranbold was successful again, despite goalkeeper Sujan Perera almost keeping the effort out.
PENALTY MAN NARANBOLD AIMS TO SCORE AGAIN IN CRUCIAL LAOS GAME
“I said to the players at half time that they showed good play and in the second half they should continue to play like this,” said Imai. “I was hoping we could score one goal. In the last minutes our players need to be thinking more. We need to control the game.”
Sri Lanka coach Duddley Steinwall was left frustrated by his team’s performance, with the South Asian side missing several opportunities to open the scoring in the opening 45 minutes, and the loss means the Sri Lankans have no chance of advancing to the knockout phase, despite having one game left to play.
“Today at the beginning of the match we played ok,” said Steinwall. “Offensively and defensively we were very organised but they scored two goals, two penalties, and I think it was not our day.
“We had easy chances that we didn’t convert in the first half and you know how it is in football, what we expect doesn’t always happen on the field. We are disappointed because today is not our day.”
