Bengaluru: Coach Mukhsin Mukhamadiev hailed the success of FC Istiklol’s counter-attacking game plan as a 2-2 draw against JSW Bengaluru in the AFC Cup Inter-Zone final on Wednesday was enough to book a date in the final with holders Air Force Club of Iraq following a 3-2 aggregate win.
Having won the first leg 1-0 in Dushanbe last month, Istiklol went into the return fixture at Sree Kanteerava Stadium with real hope of making a second final in three seasons, and Nuriddin Davronov’s early penalty left the hosts needing three goals to progress.
Bengaluru levelled but were down to 10 men before the break and Dmitri Barkov’s tap-in as the hour approached was enough to ease any nerves and render Sunil Chhetri’s penalty midway through the second half a consolation as Istiklol returned to a second AFC Cup final after losing out in 2015.
“Our first aim tonight was to score on Bengaluru’s pitch because we didn’t think they could score three against us.” said Mukhamadiev.
“The first goal in any game is always important. We’ve watched a lot of Bengaluru games and we know that they like to push forward, so the aim for this match was to catch them on the counter-attack and the team carried out the plans well.
“But Bengaluru played great and this game was like a final for us. Good luck to Indian football, it has grown in recent years and has really improved.”
Istiklol also qualified for the final on their debut campaign in 2015 and, after a group stage exit last year, have returned in style this time round.
The Dushanbe side went into Wednesday’s encounter on a nine-game unbeaten run in the continental competition and, despite facing pressure throughout, always looked dangerous on the break.
Their record now reads: played 10, won seven, drawn three, and with home advantage against defending champions Air Force Club in November’s final, Mukhamadiev’s side will be confident they can make up for their defeat two years ago.
“Ten games in a row is very good but I don’t want to talk about that in case it brings us bad luck in the final – let’s just see what happens next,” added Mukhamadiev.
“Over the two games we were the stronger of the two sides and after we scored the second we knew that we would make it to the final.
“This is a happy time for football in Tajikistan. Teams were better in the times of the USSR but now Istiklol have been the rebirth of football in the country, so it’s a huge thing for Tajikistan that we are in the final and have a chance to win the cup.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com