Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kathmandu: Manuchehr Dzhalilov and Dilshod Vasiev scored in the first half as Tajikistan held on to pick up their first points in the final round of qualifiers for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup with a 2-1 win over Nepal in Group F on Tuesday.
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Defeats by Yemen and the Philippines had left Tajikistan rooted to the foot of the table after two games, but with Dzhalilov and Vasiev netting with similar follow up finishes in quick succession, Khakim Fuzailov’s side now have it all to play for with three games remaining on the road to the 24-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Nepal, meanwhile, suffered a second defeat of the campaign after failing to build on June’s goalless draw at home to Yemen following their opening loss to the Philippines despite a second-half strike from substitute Bimal Gharti Magar.
The home side made a positive start at ANFA Complex, but it was the visitors who enjoyed the best of the early chances as Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong had to be on his toes to make three saves in quick succession inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Nepal custodian was again called into action after 25 minutes, but after saving Davronjon Ergashev’s header from Parvizjon Umarboev’s corner, Dzhalilov was on hand to sweep home from close range.
And Kiran was again beaten five minutes later as Vasiev this time was on hand to convert from close range after the Nepal goalkeeper had made an unconvincing save from an angled shot across the face of goal from Jahongir Aliev.
The home side reacted to the double blow by introducing striker Bimal in the closing stages of the first-half.
And Bimal’s introduction added an extra attacking element to Nepal in the second-half, but the striker was limited to long range efforts as the home side struggled to find a breakthrough in the final third.
But just a minute after the hour mark, a mistake in the Tajikistan defence allowed Bimal to race onto a through ball forward and the striker poked his shot coolly past advancing goalkeeper Abduaziz Mahkamov.
Dzhalilov missed a chance to restore Tajikistan’s two-goal cushion with 21 minutes remaining after scuffing his shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Nepal’s best chance of an equaliser arrived inside the final 10 minutes as Kamal Shrestha’s speculative long-range effort was helped over the crossbar by back pedalling goalkeeper Mahkamov.