The football players of “Ahal” earned the right to represent Turkmenistan in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two by defeating Tajik “Regar-TadAZ” from Tursunzoda 2-1 today in the preliminary round.
Recall that since last season, the Asian Football Confederation reformed club competitions on the continent, establishing three new tournaments: the AFC Champions League Elite for the highest-ranked clubs, the second-tier tournament – AFC Champions League Two, and the lowest-tier – AFC Challenge League.
The AFC Champions League Two is the equivalent of the previously existing AFC Cup, where the highest achievement among Turkmen clubs was reached by Ashgabat’s “Altyn Asyr,” which reached the final in 2018.
At stake in the match between the current holder of the 2024 Tajikistan Cup and “Ahal,” held in Tursunzoda at the “TALCO Arena” stadium, was a ticket to the second most important Asian tournament. The winner of this match gained the right to play in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, while the loser settled for participation in the lower-level AFC Challenge League, which is weaker in terms of level and prize money.
The match began with attacks by the home team, and already in the 5th minute, “Ahal” goalkeeper Kakageldi Berdiyev entered the game, saving a low shot from Sherzod Mahmadiev. In the 23rd minute, the guest team's striker Magtymberdi Berenov shot from the penalty area line, but the ball hit goalkeeper Manuel Panni directly.
In the second minute of added time in the first half, the Tajik players were close to taking the lead: Kwadwo Frimpong dangerously finished a cross from Faridun Davlatov, but K. Berdiyev, with some difficulty, saved the ball for a corner.
The game noticeably intensified in the second half when, in the 62nd minute, “Ahal” executed a short corner that led to a goal. Elman Tagaev crossed from the left flank, after which Bagtyyar Gurgenov opened the scoring with a header.
“Regar-TadAZ” equalized two minutes after Beglimuhammet Bekmyradov, correcting the goalkeeper's mistake, cleared the ball with his head from the goal line. It seemed the danger was over. But not so. After a series of deflections, the ball bounced to the onrushing David Atsam, who cunningly struck from 25 meters to level the score – 1:1.
The winning goal for “Ahal” came in the 82nd minute when Hakmuhammet Byashimov broke through the right flank and made a low pass to the center of the penalty area, which Suleyman Mirzoev finished from close range.
After this victory by “Ahal,” Turkmenistan for the first time obtained the right to field two clubs in the AFC Champions League Two. Along with the team of the Main Directorate “Turkmennebitonumleri,” our country will be represented in the group stage of this tournament by FC “Arkadag,” as the winner of the AFC Challenge League. The opponents of “Arkadag” and “Ahal” in the second most important Asian club tournament will be determined in the draw, which will take place on August 15.
turkmenistan.gov.tm
