Chencho Gyeltshen scored a brace as the determined Bhutan fended off the Sri Lankan challenge to win the 2nd leg 2-1 and go through in the World Cup qualifiers with a 3-1 aggregate.
Chencho boosted the host’s chances with a 5th minute strike but Zarwan Johar struck for Sri Lanka ten minutes before half time. However the visitors couldn’t find a way through in the second half and poured men forward during the final stages and paved way for Chencho to put the game beyond doubt.
Energized by the first leg result was confident but knew it would be a hard contest. “But, we are going to win,” he said. Chokey Nima said the team had a good result in the first match against Sri Lanka. He said the first match they won helped boost morale of the team members. “We are not going to take the second leg easy,” he said.
Coach Nikola Kavazovic said they have to win tomorrow’s match by any means.
The 39-year-old Serbian Coach had underestimated the strength of Bhutan’s team until recently. He said Bhutanese players are full of energy, tactics and enthusiasm, different from the teams they had played against in the past.
Nikola Kavazovic has been coaching the current national team of Sri Lanka for the last nine months. He said Sri Lanka’s team is as new as Bhutan. “It was formed just about eight months ago.”
However it was the Bhutanese led by the work horse Chencho who gave the lead as early as in the 5th minute to make life harder for Sri Lanka. Bhutan dominated the initial minutes but Sri Lanka came back strongly and Zarwan revived the visitor’s hopes with a goal in the 35th minute.
In the second half, Sri Lanka searching for their second was frustrated by the stubborn Bhutan defense. Bhutan had a chance to get their second but was denied by a brilliant save by Sujan Perera in the 68th minute. In the final minutes Sri Lanka piled men forward and sacrificed defenders for attackers. In the 90th minute taking advantage of the high defense line Chencho added the second and sent the packed Bhutan National Stadium into ecstasy.
