Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: FC Istiklol’s 2016 AFC Cup campaign came to a disappointing end on Tuesday as last season’s runners-up exited the competition without registering a win following their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Lebanon’s Tripoli.
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The Tajikistan club, who lost to Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in last year’s final, finished bottom of Group B, with the defeat against the Lebanese club their fifth in six matches in this year’s tournament.
Saad Youssef had given the Lebanese the lead almost immediately after the restart, but Fathullo Fathuloev levelled for Istiklol in the 70th minute, only for goals from Michael Helegbe and Walid Fattouh in the final eight minutes to seal all three points for Tripoli.
The result leaves Istiklol rooted to the bottom of the standings while Tripoli moved on to seven points from their six games, but still four adrift of second placed Al Faisaly from Jordan.
“We wanted to win today’s match and finish the group stage with a victory, but unfortunately we lost,” said Istiklol coach Mubin Ergashev. “We made a lot of mistakes tonight and throughout the competition. Maybe the reason for this is that we have a lot of young players.
“We changed our strategy for this season, giving a lot of attention to our young footballers. I hope they will improve from year to year and help us to achieve positive results on the international scene.
“Tripoli played well tonight. It was a good game with attacking football. We will try to solve our problems for the national championship.”
Youssef put Tripoli in front just seconds after the game restarted for the second half when his speculative effort from long range and to the right of goal moved in the air, catching out goalkeeper Nikola Stosic, who was incapable of stopping the ball from crossing the line at his near post.
Four minutes later, Istiklol hit the woodwork thanks to Davronjon Ergashev’s free kick from 30 yards, while Manuchehr Dzhalilov should have levelled in the 69th minute, only to shoot wide.
A minute later, though, the home side found the back of the net when Fathuloev’s ball was thumped towards goal, with goalkeeper Abdo Tafeh failing to collect after being distracted by Istiklol captain Nuriddin Davronov.
However, with eight minutes remaining and Istiklol pushing for a face-saving winner, Tripoli reclaimed the lead when Helegbe found himself with the time and space to side foot his shot home.
And four minutes later the result was put beyond all doubt as Fattouh claimed Tripoli’s third, rolling the ball home with ease as the Lebanese club confirmed their third place finish in the group.
“I am satisfied with how we played tonight,” said Tripoli coach Ahmad Ayas. “When Istiklol scored their goal our players showed their character. They changed the game when score was 1-1. I think we showed good football against the finalists of AFC Cup from last season.
“Istiklol also tried to play attacking football. It was our first season in this tournament and we took some good lessons from it. Hopefully we will have better results in the next editions of the AFC Cup.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports