It was found out by the outcomes of two matches against the team of the Democratic People Republic of Korea April 25.The first match was held in Pyongyang two weeks ago and ended up in 2:2 draw.
In return match, which was held at Kopetdag Stadium, the opponents did not detect the winner, it ended up in 1:1 draw as well.However, due to the number of goals scored at the opponent’s stadium, the champion of Turkmenistan has won the right to play in the final.
It was the first time for both teams to play in zonal final of the AFC Cup.April, which was named after the date of the foundation of the DPRK Army, has managed to qualify for zonal semi-final last year where it lost by the results of two matches to Indian Bangalore.
Turkmen players has never been qualified for the play off.
Coaches of both teams were not able to estimate the chances of the opponents for the final at the press conference prior the match.
“We played many matches on the fields with artificial grass.However, in Ashgabat we will have to play in natural conditions.Therefore, I cannot speak about the chance for victory”, - Head Coach of April 25 Oyun Sung said.
We came to Turkmenistan 100 percent confident in our abilities as this is the first zonal final of the AFC Cup for us, the same like for the champion of Turkmenistan”.
Head Coach of Altyn Asyr Yazkuli Hojageldiyev was also candid:
“This is a plus for us that we play return match at home stadium. As people says event the walls help at home… I think that the result of coming match is hard to predict”, - he said.
The match turned out to be hard for our team.From the first minutes, the guest started pressing around entire field and opened the score on the 7th minute.
Sim Hyong Jing made powerful kick from outside penalty area.The goalkeeper blocked the shot but the ball bounced right to Sim Hyong Hyok who hit the ball to the goal with his head.
Not expecting such turn of the events, Turkmen players started playing back.Shortly, they took over the territorial advantage.However, it did not turn out to any realistic threats.
The first and only shots on goal in the first half was made by our players on the 30th minute but it was managed by goalkeeper An Tai Song.
In their turn, the guests made several counter attacks, having made 4 shots on goals.
Turkmen players created dangerous moment at the end of the first half, which could have resulted in goal. Vahit Orazsahedov entered the goalkeeper one-on-one and seemed to take right decision to kick the ball over the goalkeeper, however he missed the goal.
After this episode, many fans were confident that not everything lost yet for our team.However, once the second half has started, Altyn Asyr run into another challenge.
The guests were able to build on progress, having received the right for penalty for the foul of Shokhrat Soyunov in the 54th minute.But the best scorer of April 25 An Il Bom could not realize the penalty.
Goalkeeper Mamed Orazmuhamedov played beyond any commendation, have demonstrated excellent response against powerful strike of the opponent.
After ten minutes, the FIFA referee from United Arab Emirates gave another penalty but to the goals of the DPRK team for the foul against Serdar Annaorazov in their penalty area. The hit of Vahit Orazsahedov was accurate 1:1.
Having managed to keep this favourable score, Altyn Asyr has beaten all imaginable records of Turkmen teams in the second important Asian club tournament.
On their way to the final of the AFC Cup 2018, the players of Honoured Coach of the country Yazkuli Hojageldiyev won zonal Central Asian tournament in D group, where twice finalist of the AFC Cup in 2016 and 2017, six times champion of Tajikistan Istiklol Football Club from Dushanbe, the best club of the last two years in Kyrgyzstan Alay from Osh and the winner of Turkmenistan Cup Ahal have been played as well.
After, the team of the Ministry of Communication of Turkmenistan won Indian Bangalore in the series of two matches in the zonal semi-final with 3:2 and 2:0 score and now took over April 25 (the DPRK).
Current winner of the trophy Air Force Club from Iraq, which took over Al Jazeera from Jordan by the outcomes of two matches and became the winner of Western Asia zone, will be the opponent of Altyn Asyr in the final of the AFC Cup 2018.
The final match will be held in Iraq on October 27.