LAHORE – The second international soccer encounter between Pakistan and Turkmenistan will be recorded in the fourth AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier this March. The winner of the final will qualify for the 16th Asian Cup at Australia in 2015. Turkmenistan are placed with Pakistan and 2008 champions India in Group B, along with the winner of the Chinese Taipei-Laos tie.
Defending champions DPR Korea are placed in Group D of the event with Nepal and Sri Lanka. The first Pakistan-Turkmensitan was recorded on June 7, 1993 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, where the Andrei Martynov-led Turks grabbed a 4-0 win. Turkmenistan were unlucky not to enter the 15th Asian Cup final phase that ended last Saturday with Japan edging out Australia in the final.
Under Yazguly Hojageldiyev, the youngest coach ever to take charge of Turkmenistan missed the bus when they lost to North Korea in third AFC Challenge Cup final at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo February 27, 2010. It was a big disappointed for skipper and goal keeper Ba
