AFC Challenge Cup

North Korea wins, wins Asia Cup spot

North Korea thrashed Turkmenistan 5-4 on penalty to win the coveted Asia Challenge Cup title and earned its spot at the 2011 Asia Cup finals in a thrilling finale worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Having reduced to ten men in the 32rd minute, the Koreans suffered a further shock when Turkmenistan found the net in the next minute through Berdy Shamuradov to take lemons at 1-0. It took nearly 40 minutes for the Koreans to find the equalizer when R Young scored the equalizer through a header. The score deadlock on 1 all, the teams were offered another 30 minutes to decide the winner on the golden boot but again neither team managed to find the net even though some quality football was on display. Koreans who missed many an opportunity made no mistake during the penalty shoot out scoring 5 out of six chances to that of 4 of Turkmenistan. R Young was adjudged the most valuable player and the highest scorer of the tournament. Tajikistan who beat Myanmar 1-0 in the third place play off was the second runner-up of the tournament.