2008 AFC Challenge Cup
The final round of the second AFC Challenge Cup was played in India from 30 July to 13 August 2008. There were eight teams, which (English: emerging nations ) from the Asian Football Federation as "developing countries" were classified, first in groups and then in playoff games against each other. Originally the finals to be held in Hyderabad on 10 August due to the poor conditions they departed, however, from the 13th August. Furthermore, the final and the match for third place in New Delhi were held.
Apart from the determination of the AFC Challenge Cupsiegers the tournament was also a part of the qualification for the Asia Cup 2011 as the winner of this tournament automatically qualify for the finals in Qatar.
Hosts India won the final against defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 and thus secured qualification for the Asia Cup 2011. The team from North Korea won the third place after a 4-0 over Myanmar.
With Pak Song - chol presented East Asians also the top scorer of the tournament, the midfielder reach six goals in five games. Best player of the tournament, the Indian captain Baichung Bhutia has been selected, and the Fair Play Award went to the host.
- 4.2.1 Semi-finals
- 4.2.2 place match
- 4.2.3 final
Hosting the tournament
Originally Taiwan was intended as a venue for the final round in November 2007 deprived the Asian Association of the country, however the hosting rights because the venues did not meet the desired criteria. Especially because the Chungshan Soccer Stadium, the only stadium in the country, should be closed from 1 July 2008 to act as an exhibition site. Meanwhile considered the AFC to stage the tournament in May 2008 in Thailand, but this idea was rejected.
The Indian Football Association agreed to host the finals of the tournament. In January 2008, India was then confirmed as host of the AFC Challenge Cup and postponed the start of the final from 1 March to 30 July 2008. There were the cities of Delhi and Hyderabad as hosts to choose from. After a few visits to the Asian Association of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh decided to host the finals.
Venues
After visiting the plant Hyderabad was set as the host of the tournament, the games will be played in two stages.
Most of the group matches, the two semi-finals, and originally the finale, taking place built in 2005 Gachibowli Stadium. This stadium seats up to 30,000 spectators and in 2007 was one of the venues for the World Military Games.
Tajikistan and North Korea - - In the Lal Bahadur - Shastri - Stadium, which was built from 1940 to 1967 and bears the name of former Indian Prime Minister, the two at the same place games were Afghanistan Myanmar are held. Also the match for third place was to take place there. The 30,000 capacity stadium was previously used mainly for cricket events. It was held for the first time a football game there.
Originally most games in the Lal Bahadur - Shastri - Stadium should take place, due to poor space conditions in this stadium, the games were, however, transferred to the modern Gachbowli Stadium.
During the tournament, the bad place conditions in the two stages have been criticized by both coaches and players. These were the stages on the day of the final unplayable, the Asian federation decided to postpone the finals and the match for third place at the 13th of August. Furthermore, the two pairings will be discharge in the Ambedkar Stadium of the capital, New Delhi.
Qualification
→ Main article: AFC Challenge Cup 2008/Qualifikation
In this issue, in contrast to Bangladesh in 2006 some changes were made. So the teams from Myanmar, Turkmenistan and North Korea were able to participate for the first time. It was also introduced for the first time a qualification phase, thus the number of participants of 16 ( 2006) became reduced to eight in 2008
Before the tournament, was determined that the hosts India and the teams of Turkmenistan, North Korea and Myanmar are qualified for the finals. The remaining 16 teams, including the defending champion Tajikistan, had to deny a qualifying round. The teams were divided into a draw in four groups of four teams each. The winners of the groups qualified for the final tournament.
Sri Lanka was able to qualify as a first team sports, the South Asians secured the ticket to a 2-2 draw against the hosts in Group A Chinese Taipei on April 6, 2008. Afghanistan qualified for the finals on May 9, of the same on 17 month followed by Tajikistan, the qualifying narrowly on goal difference compared to the Philippines. Nepal secured the ticket on May 26, 2008. Teams from Laos and Palestine withdrew their participation back before the start of the qualifiers.
The draw for the group stage on June 9, 2008 at Taj Deccan Hotel in Hyderabad resulted in the following groups:
Fixtures and Results
Preliminary round
The four teams compete in two groups (A and B) in the championship system against each other, ie, each team plays once against every other team in the group. In the group stage is one of a three win, one for a draw, one defeat does not score. In each group table, the points were added.
Case of a tie between two teams decided in the following order over the place in the table and getting ahead: the matches between the teams in question (larger number of points, goal difference, goals scored ), the goal difference and greater number of goals scored in all group matches and eventually the lot.
Group A
On the final day hosts India, defending champions Tajikistan and Turkmenistan played for the semi-finals. India, the difficult did in the two previous games, sat down thanks Baichung Bhutia 's second goal of 2-1 against the selection of Turkmenistan through. Tajikistan defeated in Afghanistan Parallel game 4-0 and moved so past the Central Asian neighbors. The managed by German coach Klaus Stärk Afghanistan could maintain a 0:0 up to 92 minutes before the hosts scored the winning goal in the first game against India. In the other two games, the team was clearly inferior and had so point - and scoreless heading home.
Group B
As expected, put the North Korean team - although started with a backup crew - as group winners by. The East Asians made this all hits in the first half and conceded a single goal. Myanmar by defeating Sri Lanka and Nepal Second and pulled at his first participation in this tournament also the semi-finals. Sri Lanka, which was still second in the last edition, was eliminated after the second match. Even the last game against Nepal was clearly lost, so that the South Asians ended the group stage in last place with 0:3.
Final round
In the semi-finals and the final knockout system is played at. Is it at the games of the final round after the regular time of 90 minutes in a draw, it comes to the extension of two periods of 15 minutes, and possibly (if still firmly stands no winner) the penalty shoot-out.
Semifinal
Hosts India put in a balanced game against neighboring Myanmar. Striker Sunil Chhetri scored the winning goal eight minutes from time. Tajikistan won the other semi-final against the favored North Koreans also 1-0, North Korea had the game after two dismissals in the last five minutes finish with nine players.
Match for third place
Final
10,000 spectators in New Delhi hosts India began aggressively and has already achieved the first goal after nine minutes when Sunil Chhetri a mistake of the goalkeeper Tuychiev who could not parry a header from NP Pradeep. Only 10 minutes later the Indian team scored their second goal by captain Baichung Bhutia, who carried the ball into the net after an assist by Samir Naik. 23 minutes in, Chhetri increased to 3-0. Although the Tajiks could shorten before the break at 1:3, their attacks in the second half but were not rewarded. Rather, Chhetri scored his third goal and the 4-1 final score in the 75th minute.
Scorers list
- North Koreans Pak Song - chol
- Turkmen Guvanchmuhamed Ovekov
- Tajik Yusuf Rabiev
- Sunil Chhetri Indians
- Baichung Bhutia Indians