Having exited at the same stage last year after the DPR Korea team were eliminated by India's Bengaluru FC, 4.25 are determined to go at least one better in 2018 and are now in the driving seat with the two-goal advantage ahead of next week's return meeting in Pyongyang.

In a match they dominated for long spells, DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC were unable to find the breakthrough in the opening half, but goals after the break from the hugely impressive Pak Myong-song and substitute An Il-bom look to have now put the East Zone champions in the driving seat ahead of next week’s second leg in Pyongyang.

The visitors did much of the early pressing and Han Song-hyok’s shot went close to opening the scoring on six minutes as he clipped the right post with a shot from distance.

There was more goal-mouth action again not long after as Home United’s goalkeeper Eko Pradana Putra failed to deal with a corner from the right and Pak’s header needed to be cleared off the line by a covering defender.

The hosts’ best chance of the first half came on the half-hour mark when Shahril Ishak sent Isaka Cernak down the right side of the area, but the Singapore international could only turn the return cutback wide of An Tae-song’s goal.

The Ashgabat club, who have claimed their domestic league title four times in a row, broke new ground in the AFC Cup this year by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time after Mihail Titow’s 97th-minute strike defeated Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol 3-2 and saw Altyn Asyr advance as the Central Asia Zonal champions.

The Indian side have developed into one of the tournament’s strongest teams in recent years, reaching the final in 2016 and then the Inter-Zone final last year, but fell just short on both occasions after defeats to Iraq’s Air Force Club and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol respectively. 

But hopes are again high in the current campaign after Bengaluru were crowned South Zone champions after a dramatic final round of group stage fixtures in May, and Sree Kanteerava Stadium will be expectant when the side take to the pitch against Central Zone champions Altyn Asyr.

August 26

Islamic Republic of Iran international Saman Ghoddos has signed a five-year contract with French side Amiens SC.

The Swedish-born Iranian began his professional career in Sweden's Division 1 Limhamn Bunkeflo in 2011 and Trelleborg in 2013 before progressing to the Superettan a year later with Syrianska.

The 59-year-old former Iraqi international's most recent appointment was as the Iraq national team head coach, with a friendly against Palestine earlier in August his final match in charge.

Qasim also previously handled the Iraq U-17 and U-19 teams as well as several clubs in Iraq and Yemen.

His major success was guiding Air Force Club to their inaugural AFC Cup title in 2016, before leaving shortly after to coach the Iraqi team.

The Falcons went on to secure their second consecutive club Continental title the following year.

Two scorchers from a semi-final classic in Kuwait, and a trio of unstoppable strikes from the ASEAN, Central and South Zones all make the grade in a quintet of knockout stage goals to whet your appetite ahead of the return of the 2018 AFC Cup.

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