# 2012 AFC Challenge Cup final

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

| Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan | Round | North Korea | North Korea |
| AFC Challenge Cup |||||
| Opponent | Result | Qualifying round | Opponent | Result |
| Pakistan | 3–0 | Qualifying Matchday 1 | Sri Lanka | 0–4 |
| Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | Qualifying Matchday 2 | Nepal | 1–0 |
| India | 1–1 | Qualifying Matchday 3 | Afghanistan | 2–0 |
| Group B second place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  India 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7  Turkmenistan 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7  Pakistan 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3  Chinese Taipei 3 0 0 3 0 7 −7 0 Source: RSSSF | Group B second place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  India 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7  Turkmenistan 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7  Pakistan 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3  Chinese Taipei 3 0 0 3 0 7 −7 0 Source: RSSSF | Qualifying round standings | Group D first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  North Korea 3 3 0 0 7 0 +7 9  Nepal 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4  Afghanistan 3 1 0 2 1 3 −2 3  Sri Lanka 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1 Source: RSSSF | Group D first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  North Korea 3 3 0 0 7 0 +7 9  Nepal 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4  Afghanistan 3 1 0 2 1 3 −2 3  Sri Lanka 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1 Source: RSSSF |
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result |
| Maldives | 3–1 | Matchday 1 | Philippines | 2–0 |
| Palestine | 0–0 | Matchday 2 | Tajikistan | 2–0 |
| Nepal | 3–0 | Matchday 3 | India | 4–0 |
| Group A first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Turkmenistan 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7  Palestine 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7  Maldives 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3  Nepal 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0 Source: RSSSF | Group A first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Turkmenistan 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7  Palestine 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7  Maldives 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3  Nepal 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0 Source: RSSSF | Final standings | Group B first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  North Korea 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 9  Philippines 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6  Tajikistan 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3  India 3 0 0 3 0 8 −8 0 Source: RSSSF | Group B first place Teamvte Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  North Korea 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 9  Philippines 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6  Tajikistan 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3  India 3 0 0 3 0 8 −8 0 Source: RSSSF |
| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result |
| Philippines | 2–1 | Semi-finals | Palestine | 2–0 |

## Match

| Turkmenistan | North Korea |
| GK | 1 | Rahmanberdi Alyhanow |
| DF | 12 | Serdar Annaorazow | 11' | 64' |
| DF | 18 | Şöhrat Söýünow | 90+4' |
| DF | 23 | Dawid Sarkisow | 86' |
| DF | 34 | Akmyrat Jumanazarow |
| MF | 8 | Bahtiýar Hojaahmedow |
| MF | 19 | Ahmet Ataýew | 58' |
| MF | 26 | Elman Tagaýew | | 42' |
| MF | 30 | Umidjan Astanow |
| FW | 7 | Berdi Şamyradow (c) |
| FW | 22 | Guwanç Abylow | | 54' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Ruslan Mingazow | | 42' |
| FW | 17 | Arslanmyrat Amanow | | 54' |
| DF | 14 | Guwanç Rejepow | | 64' |
| Manager: ||
| Ýazguly Hojageldyýew ||
| GK | 1 | Ri Myong-guk |
| DF | 5 | Ri Kwang-chon (c) |
| DF | 12 | Jon Kwang-ik | 90+3' |
| DF | 14 | Pak Nam-chol II |
| DF | 19 | Jang Kuk-chol | | 53' |
| DF | 20 | Ri Kwang-hyok |
| MF | 4 | Pak Nam-chol I |
| MF | 8 | Ri Chol-myong |
| MF | 17 | An Yong-hak | | 73' |
| FW | 10 | Pak Kwang-ryong | | 90+2' |
| FW | 11 | Jong Il-gwan | 62' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 25 | Kim Ju-song | | 53' |
| DF | 23 | Jang Song-hyok | | 73' |
| MF | 22 | Pak Song-chol I | | 90+2' |
| Manager: ||
| Yun Jong-su ||
* Man of the Match:
* Assistant referees:
* Azman Ismail (Malaysia)
* Humoud Al-Sahli (Kuwait)
* Fourth official:
* Yousef Al-Marzouqi (Kuwait)