Dhaka, April 13 (BDNEWS) – Double strikes from Yusuf Rabiev took Tajikistan to the final of the AFC Challenge Cup with a 2-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan in the semi-final at Bagabandhu National Stadium Thursday.
They will face Sri Lanka in the final on April 16 at the same venue.
Central Asian two neighbours -– Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan -– could not attract few hundreds spectators at big bowl with their same style football.
However, Tajikistan, who lost to Kyrgyzstan in the group-phase match, enjoyed the superior ball possession and launched few sharp attacks against the opponent.
Tajikistan totally failed to show their speed that they showed against Bangladesh to bowl them out 6-1 in quarterfinal.
Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, made only one attack as they took the strategy to play defensive mood fielding six defenders, but the strategy was eventually washed away after losing the match 0-2.
Tajikistan could have taken an early lead in the very third minute, but Kyrgyz midfielder Sergey Kniazev made a goal-line save at the cost of corner as a Khurshed Makhmudov powerful left-footer at the top of the box was seeking the Kyrgyz far net.
After the barren first half, Yusuf Rabiev brought the blood for Tajik six minutes into the second half as Yusuf sent the ball home with a gentle push after Dzhomikhon Muhidinov stopped a left-side cross off Dzhamolidin Oev at top of the small D-box.
Kyrgyzstan coach Podkorytov brought three changes in the second half, but the substitutes could not sharp the attacking line-up.
However, substitute striker Vladimir Verevkin could have levelled the margin in the 78th minute, but Vladimir after begin set up by Vadim Harchenko hit straight to Tajik custodian Vladislav Volkov in one-on-one situation to spoil the easy chance.
Azamal Ishenbaev getting that rebounder floated over the crosspiece to disappoint the Kyrgyz.
Yusuf Rabiev again found the net in injury-time as the striker capitalizing a short-pass from Shujoat Nematov did not mistake to send it home from very close range.
BDNEWS/1909 hrs
