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| We got lucky admits Khabibulloev |
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| Regar-TadAZ coach Makhmadjon Khabibulloev |
BISHKEK - Regar-TadAZ coach Makhmadjon Khabibulloev conceded the Tajikistan champions were fortunate to secure a final berth after edging out Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat in a thrilling semi-final on Friday.
At Spartak Stadium in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek, inaugural President’s Cup champions Regar-TadAZ needed an 87th minute own goal from Ashgabat defender Ilyas Minhairov to force extra time after twice throwing away leads in the first half.
And Regar-TadAZ won the contest in equally dramatic circumstances as captain Khurshed Makhmudov curled home a stunning strike with eight minutes remaining to send his side into the final.
“This game was played a lot like a final and my players struggled to control their emotions and threw away goals as soon as they scored them, but it is good that in the end we won,” said Khabibulloev.
“When we were 3-2 down we had to be more attacking and they were very tired, but I am thankful they kept going and won in the end.”
Maruf Rustamov headed home Jamshed’s Ismoilov’s 23rd minute lofted free-kick to open the scoring, but Dovletmurad Atayev’s close range far post volley, which fortunately found a way through Alisher Dodov’s legs in the Regar-TadAZ goal, pulled Ashgabat level just two minutes later.
Victor Simoes De Oliveira’s penalty four minutes later regained the lead for Regar-TadAZ, but the sides headed into half-time level as Serdar Geldiyev’s flicked backward header looped over Dodov 12 minutes before the break.
Arif Mirzoyev’s 69th minute breakaway looked to have secured Ashgabat a place in the final, but after Minhairov turned Ismoilov’s cross into his own net with just three minutes remaining, captain Makhmudov stepped up to snatch the win for last year’s semi-finalists.
“This is football and there are mistakes,” added Khabibulloev. “We could not score and that is why their defender helped us.
“Our captain is a very important player for us and the national team and showed that when we needed him.”
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