Fifa World Cup qualifiers: Bhutan step closer to Russia 2018

Bhutan followed up their first leg win in Colombo with victory in front of their own fans

Bhutan, the lowest ranked side in the world, have defied the odds and progressed to the next round of World Cup qualifying by beating Sri Lanka.

Fifa's 209th-ranked nation secured a 3-1 aggregate victory by winning the second leg of their Asian preliminary first-round tie 2-1 in Thimphu.

It comes four days after their shock 1-0 win in the first leg in Colombo.

Chencho Gyeltshen scored both goals for the home side, who completed only their fifth-ever competitive win.

Gyeltshen, nicknamed "The Ronaldo of Bhutan", ensured his side move a step closer to the finals in Russia in 2018.

The 19-year-old opened the scoring on five minutes and was mobbed by his team-mates when he coolly struck the winner in the 90th-minute, sealing Bhutan's progression against a team 36 places higher in the rankings.

Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan kingdom, will now take their place in the group stage, involving 40 Asian teams.

They will be joined by East Timor, ranked 185th, who beat Mongolia (195th) 5-1 on aggregate.

India (173rd), managed by Englishman Stephen Constantine, progressed after a 0-0 draw with Nepal (180th) in Kathmandu, which followed a 2-0 first leg victory in Guwahati.

Pakistan's (170th) home leg against Yemen (175th) in Lahore was postponed and shifted to an unconfirmed neutral venue after a Taliban attack on churches in the city.

Cambodia (181st) progressed 4-1 on aggregate against Macau (187th) while Chinese Taipei (188th) overturned a 1-0 first leg deficit with a 2-0 win against Brunei (198th).