Dzhormikhon Muhidinov fired twice while Khurshed Makhmudov and Numondzhin Hakimov added one goal apiece before a 5,000-strong crowd as Tajikistan, who led the first half 2-0, put on display superior skill and vigour to take absolute control.

Following tremendous hot and humid condition throughout the 16-team tournament, a light shower before the finale came as a blessing as the match was played in soothing condition.

And Tajikistan got off to a dream start when Sri Lankan defender Sanjaya's gaffe inside the area allowed them to take the lead just 50 seconds after kick-off. Sanjaya lost possession to midfielder Ibraguim Rabimov whose low drive came off goalkeeper Sugath Thilakaratne, only to make way for a rushing Muhidinov tap the ball into an empty net.

Sri Lanka took some time to reassert and began slice the rival defence down the flanks but their forwards were off the mark mostly. The South Asians earned a series of corners but failed to penetrate the solid defence of goalkeeper Aslidin Khabibulloev, who won everything in the air.

The Tajiks came close to double the advantage on the half hour but Hakimov's low cross from the left ran harmlessly across the goal as Muhidinov and Yusuf Rabiev failed to connect.

Mohamed Izzadeen came close to equalise on the stroke of the first half but his header on a corner by Lankan captain Duddley Steinwall went inches over the post.

Tajikistan, however, doubled the lead in the 45th minute when Makhmudov dodged past two defenders on the counter attack and put a low right-footer into Thilakaratne's near post from ten yards.

Sri Lanka went all out but left wide gaps at their defence, allowing the opposition to exploit the condition. Tajikistan kept the pressure and the Lankan defence went down like wheat beneath a scythe.

Striker Hakimov made it 3-0 in the 61st minute when he leaped high to score with a glancing header on a left-side freekick by indefatigable midfielder Odil Irgashev while another combined move nine minutes later saw Muhidinov find the back of the net from close for his fourth goal in the meet after Rabiev's magnificent manoeuvre at the right wing.

The Golden Boot went to Palestine striker Fahed Attal, top scorer with eight goals including a double-hattrick in their 11-0 win over Guam in the opening match. Tajikistan midfielder Ibraguim Rabimov was adjudged the Most Valuable Player.

South Asian Football Federa-tion's Nepalese president Ganesh Thapa distributed trophies after the final.

TEAMS
TAJIKISTAN: Khabibulloev (Muka-nin, 69th minute), Oev, Negmatov, Nosirov, Khujamov, Irgashev (Saidov, 77th), Makhmudov (Dzhabarov, 75th), Rabimov, Rabiev, Hakimov and Muhidinov.

SRI LANKA: Thilakaratne, Sanjaya, Steinwall, Fuard, Wasanthaka, Rohan, Izzadeen, Chathura, Rajitha (Gunaratne, 85th), Channa (Karu, 78th) and Jayasuriya (Ratnayaka, 65th).

Referee: Hedayat Mombini (Iran).