Riding on the 4 goals by Belal Arezou, the Afghanis giftend a garland of goals to hapless and listless Bhutan team, ending their misery in the SAFF Championship 2011.
Afghanistan, taking cue from the previous matches of Bhutan had started on attacking note. Right in the 4th minute, Ata Yamir Ali scored the fastest goal of this edition of SAFF Cup. The free-kick was poorly punched away by Bhutanese goalie and fell ion the feet of Ali who pumped the ball in from a difficult angle on the right.
Even the second goal was due to poor goalkeeping. Mohammed Esrafil’s goal-bound shot was fited upwards but before he could collect it back, Mumbai FC player Haroon Fakhruddin latched onto it and headed it home.
Afghanistan could not wait for the 3rd goal as they found it right in the 15th minute. Belal Arezou scored the goal after a brilliant display of skill dodging past 2 defenders. Belal made it 4-0 for Afghanistan 3 minutes later. A brilliant through ball was trapped by him without any resistance and he netted the ball smoothly.
Bhutan managed the lone goal of the tournament in the 22nd minute when Chencho latched onto a long ball and driblling past one defender put the ball in the net. Chencho is the same player who helped Royal Wahingdog thump Mohun Bagan in Federation Cup 2011.
In the last minute of half-time Belal completed his hat-trick slotting the ball which was provided from the right flank.
As if this was not enough Sangay Khandu, the Bhutanese skipper earned himself a second yellow card for rash tackle at the goalmouth. 10 man Bhutan were 6-1 down in 49 minutes after Djalaluddin Sharatiyar converted the penalty.
The 7th goal was a marvellous display of individual skill as Yousef Mashriqi cut through the defense and scored a world class goal from narrow angle. The match was rounded up by hero of the day Belal in the 83rd minute.
With this win and India managing a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka, Afghanistan have created history by topping the group and reaching the semi-final of SAFF Championship. Thus they made their way to final easier as they will meet Nepal and not the group-topper and ever-dangerous Maldives.
ANT you are the best, specially Belal Jane Arezo, AAAAAfarin AFG.
Madives and Nepal you are both out Just look for the Real winner Well done Afghanistan God bless you
go afghans go…we believe in you …do it just like you did to the Butan
go afghans..beat them all just like you beat maldive
AFG AFG AFG WELL DOWN WE ALLWAY SPORT AFG
B carefull, Afganisthan your opponents in the Semis is Nepal…….greatest team in this tournament…
EVEN THOUGH OUR POPULATION IS SMALL N OUR COUNTRY IS SMALL.. BUT THIS INDIA IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE LAST TIME..:p WE WILL GO TO THE FINALS WE WILL WIN THE SAFF COMPANIONSHIP.. GO MALDIVES GO TEAM RED..:)
whoever right this post, i have a question ? how can you be sure that nepal gonna loose, have u seen the whole game? u just wait till indian’s will go off the list…by the way indains team itself have nepalse player better than other in their own team like sushil chettri and there was many other in past too who brought indian teams ahead, do u knw tht?. nepalese team are in good form this year.
shut the fuck up…. u said made the way to final easier by squaring up with Nepal…. nobody is playing like Nepal right now… just need to see Nepal kick the Indians’ butt (if they manage to edge past Maldives)… Afghanistan is just a piece of cake for them
wow brothere can’t we agree to disagree in civil manner. Why our ppl so short tempered. Its just an oponion don’t you feel good to prove otherwise. Enjoy the game brothere relax……………
no football fan in india,,,, there is lot of nepalies and maldives supporters….!!! only cricket in india is good supporters
Hehe what is Maldives doing here. A bunch 350,000 people trying to play with countries having more soccer players than the entire country’s population. Good luck Maldives!
FOR FOOT BALL THERE IS NO QUESTION OF POPULATION!!!!!!!