Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Honours were even between India and Turkmenistan as the two sides that will advance from Group B rounded off their 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw on Friday.
Both teams had already confirmed their ticket to next year’s final by defeating Pakistan and Chinese Taipei, with India winning 3-1 and 3-0 respectively and Turkmenistan recording 3-0 and 2-0 victories over the same opposition.
All that remained was who would claim top-of-the-table bragging rights and it was Turkmenistan who took the initiative with Gahrymanberdi Chonkayev putting the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup runners-up one-up with a 52nd minute penalty.
However, Indian Arrows striker Jeje Lalpekhula continued his rich vein of goal scoring form when he equalised on the hour mark with his fourth of the competition.
The 20-year-old’s tally proved a decisive factor in India finishing top of the table, with the number of goals scored needed to separate the two sides after India and Turkmenistan not only drew at the MBPJ Stadium but finished their respective campaigns with an identical goal difference.