A seven goal thriller wowed the crowds at Bangabandhu National Stadium as Abahani Limited Dhaka edged an action-packed 4-3 scoreline in last week's first leg for a slim advantage going into the return meeting in the DPR Korea capital.

The winners of the tie at Kim Il Sung Stadium will face either Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr or Hanoi FC of Vietnam in the Inter-Zone final next month.

The Bangladeshi club surprised many on their way to the Inter-Zone Semi-finals and topped that when they, again against expectations, defeated DPR Korea's 4.25 SC 4-3 in last week's first leg in Dhaka.

The run, as far as head coach Mario Lemos is concerned, mustn't stop as he is dreaming of Abahani playing the Inter-Zone final on home soil despite 4.25's formidable AFC Cup record on home soil.

After the dust settled on an exciting tie, 4.25 were denied the draw that O Yun-son had targeted but the head coach said he wasn't too worried about the result.

Two away goals in Hanoi might ordinarily have been welcomed with open arms at this stage of the competition, but Nguyen Quang Hai’s scintillating brace and a late Nguyen Van Quyet penalty left the Turkmenistan champions a deficit to overturn in the return leg.

A veteran of Inter-Zone wins against India’s JSW Bengaluru FC and 4.25 SC of DPR Korea in his side’s charge to last year’s AFC Cup final, Geldiyev said that while losing late in Vietnam was a bitter pill to swallow, Altyn Asuyr remain well-placed to advance on home soil.

The Vietnamese team ran out 3-2 winners in last week’s first leg and will advance to the Inter-Zone Final if they avoid defeat in Turkmenistan, but should the hosts score in Ashgabat then Hanoi will also need to find the back of the net in a tie that remains firmly in the balance. 

While victory at Hang Day Stadium ensured Hanoi start the second leg with the advantage, a tally of 33 shots on goal to seven across the 90 minutes is evidence that they could have taken a much healthier lead to Central Asia.

A thrilling first leg toed and froed before the ASEAN Zonal champions finally secured a 3-2 victory over their Central Asian Zone counterparts following a late Nguyen Van Quyet penalty.

But with two away goals in the bag and home advantage at Kopetdag Stadium, Altyn Asyr will be confident they have what it takes to progress to a second successive Inter-Zone Final.