DUSHANBE: Dilshod Vasiev’s injury time goal earned former finalists FC Istiklol top spot in Group D of the 2017 AFC Cup on Wednesday as Mukhsin Mukhamadiev’s team saw off Altyn Asyr with a 1-0 win.
Victory means FC Istiklol, who were runners-up in the 2015 edition of the competition, are crowned Central Asian Zonal Champions and finish three points clear of the club from Turkmenistan at the summit.
Both teams went into the game level on 13 points, but Istiklol held a narrow advantage in the head-to-head records between the two teams thanks to their 1-1 draw away from home on Matchday Two.
That left Altyn Asyr needing either to win or record a high scoring draw and the visitors went close to opening the scoring when Murat Yakshiyev twice hit the woodwork within a minute just before the break.
The game looked to be heading for a scoreless draw until the clock ticked into injury time and Vasiev stroked the ball beyond Mamed Orazmuhamedov to give Istiklol the win that earns them a place in next week’s draw for the next phase of the competition.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com