A second-half header from Kinglsey Chigozie was enough to give Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited all three points in the AFC President’s Cup opener, in a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC Erichim of Mongolia at a scorching Sugathadasa Stadium on Saturday.
Although Sheikh Russel were pegged back for long spells in the first half of the Group B opener, Nigerian forward Chigozie rose highest on 65 minutes to head home and give the tournament debutants all three points in Colombo.
While FC Erchim had arguably edged the first half, they faded badly in the second period and now must re-group for Monday’s meeting with DPR Korea’s Rimyongsu Club.
“I am not satisfied with the performance despite the win but that’s maybe because of the hot weather it was difficult to play to their full potential,” said Sheikh Russel coach Sheikh Mohammad Zakaria, with the Bangladeshi side now due for a three day rest period before continuing their campaign against Rimyongsu on Wednesday.
“I told the players at half-time not to worry about the goalless score line and to play their normal game and the goal would come.
“I am convinced, though, that my team will be able to raise their game for the subsequent fixtures and I am pleased we have begun the tournament with a win.”
In a fast opening to the tie, Sheikh Russel forward Jahid Ameli had sounded an early warning of his goal threat after only two minutes with a free kick curled narrowly over from 20 yards out.
And just eight minutes later the same player had the ball in the net, but Ameli had strayed offside before turning in Anower Hossain’s cross at the back post.
Thereafter, though, it was Erchim who looked the more convincing going forward with 18-year-old playmaker Tuguldur Munkh-erdene behind much of their good work.
Ostensibly playing as a left-winger, Munkh-erdene cut into the middle at regular intervals, and it was the teenager’s dancing feet with eight minutes remaining till the break that gave Erchim their best chance of the half.
First bamboozling his marker on the halfway line, Munkh-erdene then slipped a delicate through ball into the 16-yard area, where Sundorj Janchiv was inches away from connecting until Sheikh Russel custodian Mamun Khan intercepted with a sliding feet-first block.
At half-time, Sheikh Russel coach Zakaria had clearly seen enough and brought on Mohammed Morad to take over the right flank of his backline and quell the dangerous Munkh-erdene.
And the tactical switch paid dividends as the tricky number 10’s influence waned considerably following the re-start as Sheikh Russel wrested momentum back and took the lead shortly after the hour mark.
A clumsy challenge by Davaajav Battur on Ameli on the left edge of the penalty area was clinically punished as Mithun Chowdhury’s resulting free-kick found the towering form of Chigozie at the back post, and the striker powered his header down past goalkeeper Ariunbold Batsaikhan.
Erchim tried to restore parity but with Munkh-erdene now a shadow of his first-half self the Mongolian club struggled to break down the Sheikh Russel backline.
In fact, their best chance was to come deep into added time from the foot of Bojan Petric as the FC Erchim defender turned Gal-erdene Soyol-erdene’s right-wing cross narrowly past his own near-post.
“I think the 1-0 score line does not reflect the true nature of the game because it was very equal between the two sides,” said FC Erchim coach Vojislav Bralusic.
“Although yesterday in the press conference I said the weather wouldn’t be a problem, but the reality is the heat was a major factor for us.
“In the second half my players really faded and unfortunately they lost concentration on the free kick – when you do that, you get punished.”
