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| The Dordoi (yellow) and Istiklol teams line-up |
The Phnom Penh Crown squad travelled to the Central Stadium in Dushanbe
this afternoon to watch the opening Group A match of the
AFC President's Cup
Final Stage between the home side, Istiklol (Tajikistan) and their
next-door-neighbours, Dordoi from Kyrgyzstan. Both teams are
highly-fancied with history and home advantage on their side
respectively, though it was Istiklol, cheered on by 5,118 spectators,
who won 2-0 and deservedly so. They could even afford to play the final
38 minutes with 10-men, it was that comfortable. Both teams had half
chances before the crowd erupted on 39 minutes when Davronjon Ergashev
rose unchallenged to head the home team into the lead. His prayer goal
celebrations lasted a full minute. At the start of the 2nd half, Dordoi
looked to get a lifeline back into the match. Istiklol's Sohib
Savankulov was dismissed for handball on the goal-line and Azamat
Baimatov waited for a full two minutes whilst the red-carded player
trudged slowly to the dressing room. The wait unnerved him and a poorly
struck spot-kick was easily saved by keeper Alisher Tuychiev. Spurred
on, Istiklol netted a second goal 15 minutes after the break when
full-back Makhmadali Sadykov raced down the right wing and his cross
caught Dordoi keeper Pavel Matiash unawares and the ball found its way
inside the near post, with the help of keeper's knee. Dordoi's long ball
game hadn't worked - mainly as they were missing their top scorer
Mirlan Murzaev - the home team's ten men were coping admirably with
everything a tired-looking Dordoi had to offer and there was no way back
for the two-times champions, who failed to change their game-plan when
it mattered most. Dordoi must beat PPCFC on Wednesday to have any hope
of making the final. The Crown squad had seen enough and headed back to
their hotel for dinner at the final whistle. In the second match of the
day at the same stadium, the opening Group B match between reigning
champions Taiwan Power and Al Ammari Youth from Palestine ended all
square at 1-1. Ahmed Keshkesh put the Palestine club ahead on 68 minutes
with Yi-Wei Chen equalizing with three minutes to go. A crowd of 2,078
watched the game.
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| The Istiklol starting XI |
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| The match is underway |
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| Istiklol take the plaudits from the home crowd |
2 comments:
Andy, did you hear anything about the new stadium they're going to build in Phnom Penh? I heard the building process starts on this Descember and it will cost $200 million USD.
I saw what was written in the local press but never believe it until I see it with my own eyes. The city needs a top quality stadium as well as other facilities to move forward both in football terms and other sports, but I'm not convinced there is the determination to do that at this point in time. I really hope there is and my skepticism is unfounded. I would love to see something tangible starting in December.
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