The two remaining spots in the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) Cup 2017 have been determined with Dordoi FC and Mohun Bagan sealing qualification woth playoff victories on Tuesday. Let's take a look at what transpired during the two games.
Central Zone playoff:
FC Hosilot 1-1 Dordoi FC (1-2 on aggregate) [Hasan 90+’ - Islam Shamsiev 6’]
Kyrgyz Republic outfit Dordoi FC sealed their qualification to AFC Cup 2017 group stages after a holding FC Hosilot to a 1-1 draw in Tajikistan to progress on aggregate.
Having won the first leg in Kyrgyz Republic 1-0, Dordoi consolidated their position of strength with the game being only six minutes old. Islam Shamsiev doubled their advantage by scoring with a firm drive.
Though Hosilot tried to get back into the game, Dordoi were having none of it and easily kept their attack at bay until deep into second half stoppage time.
Muhammadjon Hassan scored the equaliser on the night with a firm header but it was all a little too late, with Dordoi FC qualifying for the AFC Cup group stages for the first time ever.
They will join Tajik champions FC Istiklol, Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FC and Kyrgysztan’s FC Alay in Group D.
South Zone playoff:
Mohun Bagan 4-1 Club Valencia (5-2 on aggregate) [Jeje 2’, 81’ Nihaan (OG) 45’ Norde 87’ - Omodu 52’]
Mohun Bagan social media
Mohun Bagan managed to advance to the group stages of the 2017 AFC Cup after flying through the South Zone play-off against Maldivian side Club Valencia with a 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate) win at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium on Tuesday.
Mohun Bagan surged into the lead in the second minute when Jeje Lalpekhlua’s shot was inexplicably handled by Usam. The referee had no hesitation as he pointed to the spot and Jeje stepped up and buried the spot kick, giving Mohamed Faisal no chance. The tie was dominated by the Indian club who then got a helping hand from Hussain Nihaan who turned the ball into his own net to make it 2-0 on the night for Mohun Bagan.
REPORT: Mohun Bagan 4-1 Club Valencia
Though Club Valencia got a goal back through Godfrey Omodu who was allowed to run through the defence and finish, the result was sealed late on by Jeje Lalpekhlua who got his brace after he scored with a diving header from Prabir Das’s cross.
Bagan’s Haitian winger Sony Norde added a fourth on the night with a powerful drive into the far corner, underlining the Indian club’s dominance. They will now face Bengaluru FC, Maziya and Dhaka Abahani in Group E.