The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup final was an association football match between Turkmenistan and North Korea on 19 March 2012 at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Background The AFC Challenge Cup was an international football competition for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations that was categorized as "emerging countries" in the "Vision Asia" program. It was an idea by former AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam and its goal was to raise the standards of Asian football at all levels. The AFC Challenge Cup, which reflected the philosophy of "Vision Asia", was created for teams to experience playing in a continental competition with the possibility to win an AFC trophy and potentially discover new talent. It was held in every two years as its inaugural edition took place on 2006 in Bangladesh. The winner qualifies for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Route to the final
RoundAFC Challenge CupOpponentResultQualifying roundOpponentResult3–0Qualifying Matchday 10–42–0Qualifying Matchday 21–01–1Qualifying Matchday 32–0Group B second placeQualifying round standingsGroup D first placeOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult3–1Matchday 12–00–0Matchday 22–03–0Matchday 34–0Group A first placeFinal standingsGroup B first placeOpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult2–1Semi-finals2–0
Match
GK 1 Rahmanberdi AlyhanowDF 12 Serdar Annaorazow DF 18 Şöhrat Söýünow DF 23 Dawid Sarkisow DF 34 Akmyrat JumanazarowMF 8 Bahtiýar HojaahmedowMF 19 Ahmet Ataýew MF 26 Elman Tagaýew MF 30 Umidjan AstanowFW 7 Berdi Şamyradow (c)FW 22 Guwanç Abylow Substitutions:MF 6 Ruslan Mingazow FW 17 Arslanmyrat Amanow DF 14 Guwanç Rejepow Manager:Ýazguly Hojageldyýew GK 1 Ri Myong-gukDF 5 Ri Kwang-chon (c)DF 12 Jon Kwang-ik DF 14 Pak Nam-chol IIDF 19 Jang Kuk-chol DF 20 Ri Kwang-hyokMF 4 Pak Nam-chol IMF 8 Ri Chol-myongMF 17 An Yong-hak FW 10 Pak Kwang-ryong FW 11 Jong Il-gwan Substitutions:FW 25 Kim Ju-song DF 23 Jang Song-hyok MF 22 Pak Song-chol I Manager:Yun Jong-su Man of the Match:
Assistant referees: Azman Ismail (Malaysia) Humoud Al-Sahli (Kuwait) Fourth official: Yousef Al-Marzouqi (Kuwait)
References