Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Vientiane: Hosts Laos bounced back from their disappointing draw against Mongolia by beating Sri Lanka 4-2 in the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 qualifiers on Monday to keep alive their hopes of a place in next year's finals.
Four different players were on the scoresheet for the hosts at the Laos National Stadium in the victory that saw them go second in the Group C table behind Afghanistan, who recorded their second 1-0 victory with a defeat of Mongolia in the earlier match at the same venue.
A win for Laos against Afghanistan in the final match day on Wednesday will ensure qualification to the tournament proper while Sri Lanka are out of the reckoning after suffering two straight defeats.
Laos took a 31st minute lead through a Soukaphone Vongchiengkham penalty before Vilayout Sayyaboun doubled the Group C hosts advantage just two minutes into the second half.
Laos’ third came in 71st minute through Viengsavanh Sayyaboun and while Charitha Mudiyanselage pegged one back for Sri Lanka three minutes laterthe South East Asians soon restored their three-goal cushion with Sangvone Phimmasen making it 4-1 in the 77th minute.
Skipper Chatura Pordi reduced the deficit with nine minutes remaining but it was too late for the Sri Lankans to find a way back into the match leaving Laos and Afghanistan to go head-to-head on Wednesday to determine the Group C winners.