By Sachit Subba • Football • Oct 09, 2025 16:10 PM • 36 views
Colombo, October 9 — A day to be remembered as one of Sri Lanka's finest footballing moments, the island nation pulled off a sensational 1–0 victory over Turkmenistan in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Despite sitting 59 places below their opponents in the FIFA World Rankings — Sri Lanka at 197th and Turkmenistan at 138th — the Abdullah almutairi's side delivered a spirited performance, backed by a passionate Colombo crowd that roared them toward a famous win.
Sri Lanka's defence stood tall against waves of Turkmen pressure, while their counterattacks posed a real threat throughout the contest. The decisive moment came midway through the match, when the home side capitalised on a rare opening to take the lead — a goal that sent the stadium into raptures and shifted belief across the Sri Lankan bench.
Turkmenistan pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half but found no way past the disciplined Sri Lankan backline and an inspired goalkeeper who ensured the clean sheet remained intact. The narrow victory gives Sri Lanka a slender but vital edge heading into the second leg in Ashgabat on October 14, where they will aim to protect their lead and continue their remarkable journey toward Asian football's grand stage — the AFC Asian Cup 2027. For Lankan, this win was more than just a win; it was a statement of intent from a team long written off, now daring to dream.
