Kyrgyz Republic, who defeated Oman 1-0 on Matchday 2, almost opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Murolimzhon Akhmedov’s delightful found Joel Kojo who, however, failed to convert from close range.

 

Chinese Taipei, however, suffered a setback when head coach Gary White was sent off in the eighth minute.

 

The Central Asian side came close again in the ninth minute when Aleksandr Mishchenko’s overlapping run on the right opened space for Kojo to set up Nurdoolot Stalbekov inside the six-yard-box, but the FC Alay midfielder’s tame finish was easily cleared by the Chinese Taipei defenders.

Chinese Taipei had an opportunity in the 21st minute with Chin Wen-yen and Ange Kouame combining nicely just above the box but Wu Yen-shu failed to find the target off a turn from inside the area.

 

Kyrgyz Republic suffered a setback when Said Datsiev received his second yellow card in the 24th minute but they continued to dominate and could have broken the deadlock in the 51st minute but Khristiyan Brauzman’s cross into the box for Kojo was intercepted by alert Chinese Taipei keeper Pan Wen-Chieh. 

However, the East Asian side’s resistance was finally broken three minutes later when they conceded a penalty after substitute Kai Mer was brought down inside the box with captain Kichin converting.

 

Chinese Taipei almost found a way through in the 70th minute when Liang Meng-hsin burst down the left flank before cutting back to Gao Wei-jie, whose low drive was parried away by Kyrgyz Republic keeper Erzhan Tokotayev.