AFC Futsal Asian Cup
A win for Kyrgyz Republic would have seen them qualify for the quarter-finals with a game to spare, but after goals from Bahodur Khojaev and Komron Aliev put Tajikistan two goals up, they were delighted to gain a point after Shokhrukh Makhmadaminov and then Maksat Alimov in the final seconds brought them back level.
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Tajikistan were the more aggressive side from the get-go and were successful in containing Kyrgyz Republic within their own half in the opening minutes at the Bangkok Arena, with goalkeeper Firuz Bekmurodov encouraged to push high up the court.
Kyrgyz Republic didn't remain pegged back for long though and began pushing back as Alimov broke free the on the counter in the fourth minute, only to be fouled by his fellow captain Dilshod Salomov.
From the resulting free-kick Donierbek Amanbaev hammered the crossbar in the game’s first real chance of note, before shortly after Bekmurodov was forced into a flying save by Alimov.
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Nine minutes in Tajikistan had their own golden chance as Salomov broke through one-on-one with Bekbolot Akmataliev, but the Kyrgyz Republic custodian was equal to the effort.
But the very next attack bore fruit. Khojaev took advantage of a loose ball from a corner-kick that the Kyrgyz Republic defence were unable to clear, and hammered home to give Tajikistan the lead.
The game settled into a tightly contested encounter, but with few clear-cut chances created, neither side further troubled the scoreline before the half-time break.
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The second half continued in much the same vein and few opportunities of note were created in the opening spells of the restart in what was a physical contest between two evenly-matched teams.
But it was Tajikistan who again found the net next, just before the halfway point of the second period, as Aliev hit Kyrgyz Republic on the counter and calmly slotted past Akmataliev to double their lead.
Kyrgyz Republic came roaring back though as the successful use of a power play on the 37th minute resulted in them clawing back the deficit as Alimov laid off the ball for Makhmadaminov to power in a rising shot that beat Akmataliev at his near post.
And the power play worked even better in the final seconds as Alimov tapped home to ensure the points would be shared in dramatic final scenes that sent their noisy gathering of supporting fans into ecstasy.
They will next face Korea Republic on Monday at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, while Tajikistan return to Bangkok Arena to face defending champions Japan.
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