The result won them the tie on away goals following a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Pyongyang. They now face defending champions Air Force Club of Iraq – who are aiming for an unprecedented third successive title – in the final on October 27.

Vahyt Orazsakhedov’s second-half equaliser was the crucial decider as Altyn Asyr FC sealed a 1-1 home draw against 4.25 SC on Wednesday to progress on away goals after both sides played to a 2-2 draw in the first-leg in Pyongyang.

The Central Asians will face reigning champions Air Force Club in the AFC Cup final, who secured a memorable 4-1 win over Jordan’s Al Jazeera over two legs after an emphatic 3-1 display on Tuesday at the Karbala International Stadium in Iraq.

“On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to congratulate Air Force Club for securing their second West Zone crown. We must also congratulate our new Inter-zonal champions Altyn Asyr FC for displaying immense quality to become the first club from Turkmenistan to not only achieve regional success, but also to qualify for the final of the AFC Cup.

The sides had drawn the first leg 2-2 in Pyongyang and Vahyt Orazsakhedov’s second-half penalty was the decisive goal for the Turkmen after Han Song-hyok had given the visitors an early lead.

4.25 SC started brightly and went 1-0 up in the seventh minute. Sim Hyon-jin tested Mamed Orazmuhamedov in the Altyn Asyr goal and the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Han Song-hyok who gleefully headed home.

The hosts responded with an excellent run and cross down the left from Altmyrat Annadurdyyev but Kim Chol-bom made a vital clearance at the far post.

The Jordanians, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, came closest to finding the back of the net in the first half, but Mahmoud Al Mardi watched his header from Mouaiad Al Ajjan’s corner-kick cannon off the crossbar in the 19th minute.

Emad Mohsin was presented with a golden opportunity to open Air Force Club's account on the night when Hammadi Ahmed released him inside the opposition box, but the forward failed to control the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The hosts came out for the second half with a different look, and were in front inside three minutes of the restart as Ahmed latched onto Mohsin’s through pass inside the box and finished first time on the half-volley to put Air Force Club in front on the night and 2-0 up on aggregate.

The Ashgabat-based club were crowned Central Asia Zonal champions after Mihail Titow’s 97th-minute goal in May ousted Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol to book a date with India’s JSW Bengaluru, who Istiklol eliminated in last year’s competition en route to their second appearance in the final.

With Central Asian sides having been represented in the AFC Cup in every edition but one since the inaugural tournament in 2004, the-AFC.com looks back at how its sides have performed over the years as Altyn Asyr look to continue the region’s recent upward trajectory.

With 10 goals between them in the competition so far, Hammadi Ahmad and Amjad Radhi paved the way for Air Force Club to stand tall against every opposition they faced in this year's AFC Cup.

In the West Asia Zonal semi-finals, the Iraqi side knocked out Lebanon's Al Ahed to keep their title defence and unbeaten record ongoing.