Ranked 197th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Sri Lankan side defied the odds to defeat 138th-ranked Turkmenistan in front of an energetic home crowd, securing a vital advantage ahead of the second leg.
With this victory, Sri Lanka take a 1–0 aggregate lead into the return leg, scheduled for October 14 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where they will look to defend their advantage and continue their dream run toward qualification for the 2027 AFC Asia Cup.
