AFC Challenge League - Group A: Paro FC (BHU) 3-3 FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ)

Thimphu: Kyrgyz Republic’s FC Abdysh-Ata and Bhutan’s Paro FC shared honours in an enthralling 3-3 draw to finish their AFC Challenge League™ 2025/26 Group A campaigns on a high at Changlimithang Stadium on Friday.

Goals from Artem Bilyi, Baktai Talaibek and Erbol Abduzhaparov were matched by strikes from Evans Asante and a brace from Riku Ichimura to ensure both sides gained their first point of the competition in their final match.

Bilyi gave Abdysh-Aya the lead in the fifth minute when he was set up nicely by Manji Williams, with the midfielder giving keeper Jeffrey Baltus no chance with a 20-yard screamer.

They doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when Talaibek snuck in from behind the Paro defence to head in from close range after connecting with Bilyi’s chipped cross.

Six-time Bhutan Premier League champions Paro came to life in the 33rd minute when skipper Asante pulled one back with a well-taken shot from 20 yards that flew past keeper Ruslan Amirov.

Ichimura found the equaliser on the dot of half-time when he pounced on a fumble by Amirov and slammed the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Japanese striker, however, failed to put his team ahead after the break when his shot from outside the area rolled just wide of the right post while defender Nima Wangdi’s 18-yard inswinger was parried away by Amirov in the 58th minute.

The hosts threw everything they had at the Abdysh-Ata goal, with Asante, Taygor Gonzales and Abayomi Fakunle coming close but ultimately missing the mark.

Richard Sagna’s first-time strike in the 78th minute was denied by the left post while Gyeltshen Zangpo, who had come on for an injured Baltus, tipped over Bilyi’s thunderous 30-yard strike.

Abdysh-Ata thought they had found their winner in the 84th minute when a lurking Abduzhaparov pounced on a Biimyrza Zhenishbekov rebound off the left post and with Zangpo caught off position, gleefully slammed the ball into an empty net.

Paro, however, refused to concede defeat with Ichimura equalising with an opportunistic strike five minutes into time added on for a richly deserved point.

Group A: Paro FC (BHU) 3-3 FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ)

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Group C: FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK) 1-2 Safa SC (LBN)

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