A lackluster Sri Lanka suffered a narrow 2-1 loss at the hands of Laos in their opening group game in the AFC Solidarity Cup 2016 worked off at the Negeri Satidum in Kuching (Malaysia).
Laos started off the half in the ascendancy as they managed to pin Sri Lanka to their own half. With persistent pressure from either side of the field, Laos managed to cause ample headaches for the Sri Lankan backline.
Skipper Sujan Perera had an early injury scare after a nasty collision; however the Sri Lanka custodian managed to shrug it off and get on with proceedings much to the relief of his teammates.
The most telling chance of the half fell to Laos; when Laos captain Phatthana Syvilav was sent through on goal on the right, only to see his effort blaze past the post with Perera and his goal at his mercy.
Madushan De Silva had a golden opportunity to give the Lankans the lead against the run of play when a defensive mix up from a free-kick saw him pick up the pieces only to curl his shot across the face of goal.
That is as close as the Sri Lankans came in the first half as Laos dominated the first half.
The corner count managed to rack up to double digits for Laos, as Sri Lanka’s unconvincing style of defending contributed to their own downfall.
The latter half of the first 45 saw Sri Lanka defend a flurry of corners which they managed to see off despite hanging by the skin of their teeth to carry into the break.
Half time: Sri Lanka 0 – 0 Laos
The second half saw Laos start from where they left off, as they seemed determined to make the pressure count with at least a goal in their favor.
One of the numerous corners saw Sri Lanka’s undoing as M.Souksavath, completely unmarked inside the box, managed to head the ball to give Laos the lead. The Sri Lankan defenders were left with glum faces looking at each other as they had left a couple of Laos’ players unmarked.
Laos went in for the kill once they smelled blood, creating more and more openings only to be denied by the heroics of Sujan Perera and Asikur Rahuman in defense.
Sri Lanka, after sleep walking for most of the match, came as close as thumping the upright when Edison Figuardo saw two of his efforts denied in quick succession by the woodwork and a brilliant save by the Laos custodian.
Just as the Lankans were building some momentum, they were pegged back by Laos when they scored yet another goal through K. Sonthanalay, when he threw a toe at a ball which was travelling across goal in the 83rd minute.
Sri Lanka seemed at bay with a two goal cushion against them with less than 10 minutes to play. However, they threw caution to the wind and started pressing forward asking questions from the Laos defense.
Their persistence was rewarded rather late as Asikur Rahuman’s glancing header off a corner found the back of the net forSri Lanka to reduce the deficit in the second minute of injury time.
It was all but late for Sri Lanka as the final whistle blew shortly after.
Sri Lanka has their work cut out for the rest of the tournament to keep their semifinal hopes alive. They will face Mongolia in their second group stage match on the 6th of November.
Full time: Sri Lanka 1 – 2 Laos
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Phatthana Syvilav (Laos)
Speaking after the match the coach of Sri Lanka, Dudley Stainwall;
“We defended set pieces poorly and twice we allowed them to score easy goals. We came back strong but we should have done better with the chances we had”
Speaking about moving forward in the tournament, “We have to win the next game against Mongolia if we are to keep our hopes alive in the tournament. I feel like it is a must.”
Goal scorers:
Laos – M. Souksavath (58th), K. Sonthanalay (83rd)
Sri Lanka – Asikur Rahuman (90+3)
