The Sri Lankan hockey team started their 5th Asia Hockey Federation Cup journey on a high note as they went on to secure a landslide 7-2 victory against Uzbekistan in the opening encounter played in Hong Kong.
Nalantha De Silva’s Sri Lankan national team had full control in the game with veteran player Sandaruwan Priyalanka scoring a hat-trick while the other goals came from the efforts of Shamika Gunawardhana, Dinesh Wijesinghe and Lahiru Panthie.
Sri Lanka scored three goals in the first half while the Uzbeks scored just a single goal off a penalty corner. Sandaruwan gave the Lankans the start in the 14th minute while Shamika Gunawardhana fired in two later in the first half.
Sandaruwan Priyalankara completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute while Dinesh Wijesinghe and Lahiru Panthie contributed to the goal scorers’ list in the second half.
For Uzbekistan, it was Okhunjon Mirzakarimov and Gaybullo Khaytboev who scored.
The Sri Lanka team, currently in Hong Kong for the 5th Asia Hockey Federation Cup, are grouped in group B along with Singapore, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Sri Lanka will face Singapore tomorrow (22nd) in their second group stage encounter and later Thailand on the 24th.
