Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Gurgaon: Afghanistan advanced to the qualifying tournament proper for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup after a 2-0 second leg triumph on Friday saw Mohammad Yosuf Kargar’s side down Bhutan 5-0 on aggregate in their pre-qualifying clash.
Afghanistan went into the game at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium buoyed by their comfortable 3-0 first-leg win at the same venue, which came courtesy of a Sediq Walizada hat-trick, but they had to wait until an hour had been played before extending their aggregate advantage.
Nadeem Wahid broke the deadlock in the 61st minute before Israfeel Kohistani gave the men from the Himalayan kingdom an even bigger mountain to climb with Afghanistan’s second of the match just four minutes later.
Afghanistan advance to next month’s 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying Group D and will kick-off their campaign on April 7 against hosts Nepal.