A brace from Suleyman Muhadov saw FC HTTU through to Friday’s AFC President’s Cup final and a meeting with DPR Korea’s Rimyongsu Club, after the Turkmen team recorded a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka Air Force SC on Wednesday.
Kavindu Ishan had given the hosts a shock lead at Sugathadasa Stadium on 20 minutes but after relentless pressure from FC HTTU, Sri Lanka Air Force goalkeeper Sujan Perera’s defiance was ended in the final 10 minutes of the match as Muhadov netted his double in quick succession.
The result means FC HTTU top Group A, ahead of Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi Club who they defeated 3-1 on Monday, and Sri Lanka Air Force who despite taking the lead against both Manang and FC HTTU ended the tournament without picking up a point after two consecutive 2-1 defeats.
“It was a nervous match and we showed a low level of concentration as the players already thought they had one leg in the final, but my guys showed in the second-half that they could lift their level,” said FC HTTU coach Rowshen Meredov.
“Sri Lanka Air Force also did a good job and gave us a hard game. We will now look to rest and recover before the final against Rimyongsu – which should be a very difficult game against a strong team.”
In the opening period, FC HTTU enjoyed the bulk of possession, but struggled to create any clear-cut chances, comfortable in the knowledge that a draw would be sufficient to win them the group.
However, their lethargy was punished halfway through the first period as Sri Lanka Air Force defender Danushka Welgamagey’s long ball downfield found Dimuthu Lakmal on the right-side of the penalty area and his miss-hit shot fell kindly into the path of Ishan who struck the ball over Nurgeldy Astanov for his second goal in as many games.
With three minutes remaining of the half, Muhadov had a golden chance to tie the scores when Muhammed Astanov’s chipped ball midway inside the Sri Lanka Air Force half found the 20-year-old through on goal, but his attempted lob over Perera was over-hit and sailed over the crossbar.
Following the half-time interval, though, FC HTTU showed a great deal more urgency and and began to carve out chances at will as Sri Lanka Air Force sat their defensive line even deeper.
After Shohrat Soyunov had headed narrowly over following a corner, Nuryagdy Muhammedov then put through Okan Ersoy but the Turkish midfielder’s shot was well saved by Perera who threw himself low to his left to force the ball away.
The Sri Lanka Air Force custodian then repeated the trick with equally impressive stops from Muhadov and Soyunov before second-half substitute Orazberdi Myradov somehow blazed over when Muhadov had teed him up for what should have been a simple finish with the net unguarded.
But FC HTTU were not to be denied and equaliser came from a familiar source as Annasahet Annasahedov clipped in a teasing cross from the left that Muhadov, a hat-trick scorer in the win over Manang, met with a bullet header to leave Perera no chance with eight minutes remaining.
And three minutes later, FC HTTU secured Group A and booked their meeting with Rimyongsu as a long ball up the field from Soyunov found Muhadov racing through the heart of the flat-footed Sri Lanka Air Force defence and the Turkmenistan striker nodded the ball past the onrushing Perera for his second of the day and fifth of the tournament.
“It was very tough match against a good Turkmen team with many strong players. But to see our team take and maintain the lead for over 80 minutes against such a side was very pleasing,” said Sri Lanka Air Force coach Sampath Perera, who had strikers Duminda Dinoris and Nipuna Bandara absent from the tie through injuries.
“Our two injured forwards proved very difficult to replace them and that is why we had trouble scoring more than one goal, which we needed.
“I know the capacity and capability of the team, so nevertheless I am happy that the team has performed beyond my expectations in this tournament.”
