Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Colombo: Last year’s AFC President’s Cup runners-up KRL were held to a goalless draw by Bangladesh champions Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited in the opening round of Group A matches in the last ever edition of the tournament for emerging nations.
The KRL side that took to the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday was a shadow of the team that made it all the way to the final of the 2013 AFC President’s Cup final in Malacca, where they missed out on becoming the first club from Pakistan to win AFC silverware when they were defeated 1-0 by Turkmenistan’s Balkan.
Star striker Kalim Ullah, scorer of seven goals in last year’s AFC President’s Cup, and team-mate Muhammad Adil had already left the club to join Kyrgyzstan powerhouse Dordoi Bishkek, while Sadam Hussain and Bilawal-ur-Rehman were called up to the Pakistan national team for their participation in the Al Nakba International Tournament in Palestine. KRL were further weakened by the absence of experienced skipper Samar Ishaq, with Kamran Khan taking over the captain’s armband from the veteran defender.
The goalless stalemate means that Sri Lanka Air Force FC lead the way after the first round of matches, with Nipuna Bandara’s 58th minute strike enough for the Group A hosts to edge Bhutan’s Ugyen Academy in the opening fixture earlier at the Sugathadasa Stadium.