AFC Challenge Cup 2012: Group A Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives

Turkmenistan came from a goal down to comfortably defeat the Maldives 3-1 on the opening day of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in a keenly contested match at Halchowk Stadium.

Turkmenistan dictated the early proceedings but it was the Maldives who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute when David Sarkisov fouled Mohammed Umair, who fired the resulting free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard area just past the post.

The Maldives took a surprise lead against the run of a play in the 20th minute when Riley Riwan's cross into the penalty area was mis-headed by Umidjan Astanov allowing Hasan Adhuham to latch onto the ball and score with his first international goal.

Turkmenistan came close levelling a minute later when Ruslan Mingazov missed from close range but the winger made amends in the 33rd minute when he made it 1-1 after receiving Arslanmyrat Amanov's through ball.

The Central Asians came close to taking the lead with seven minutes of the first-half remaining when Maldives keeper Imran Mohammed made a superb save to deny Turkmenistan captain Berdy Shamuradov as the teams went into the break all square.

Turkmenistan upped the pressure in the second-half and came close four times in the space of five minutes but their efforts were thwarted by either good goalkeeping or brave defending.

However, their persistence finally paid off in the 78th minute when substitute Gahryman Chonkayev scored with a brilliantly-struck free-kick, awarded after Imran Fazeel brought down Shohrat Soyunov about 20 yards from the Maldives goal.

Any hopes the Indian Ocean islanders harboured of making a comeback were dashed with nine minutes remaining when referee Yousef Al Marzouq red carded Ahmed Tariq and Turkmenistan made the most of their extra-man advantage when Amanov sealed the 3-1 win with a superb solo effort.