DUSHANBE, October 1 — Nepal’s Mahendra Police Club broke the hegemony of Central Asian teams on the two final slots of the AFC President’s Cup after beating Tajikistan’s former champions Regar-TadAZ 2-1 in the semi-final at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, FootabllPakistan.com said.
This indeed was a huge upset for Regar-TadAZ, which along with Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo, Regar-TadAZ was billed as one of the favorites of the competition.
The five-time Tajik champions and three-time Tajikistan Cup winners are being coached by national team coach Mahmadjon Habibulloyev. Habibulloyev said, “My players committed many mistakes in midfield and failed to convert chances that came their way.” “On the other hand, Mahendra players displayed good spirit. We knew that it will be a tough game and it was even till the last minute but a defensive error cost us the match.”
On September 30, in the final, Nepalese faced Dordoi-Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, which won the second semi-final. Dordoi-Dynamo defeated Nepalese Police Club 2-1 and became AFC President’s Cup for the second time.
Regar-TadAZ returned to this annual premier club competition after a year”s gap. Regar-TadAZ became the very first AFC President’s Cup champions by defeating Dordoi-Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in the finals in Katmandu in May 2005.
The AFC President”s Cup 2007 was the third edition of the AFC President’s Cup, a competition for football clubs in countries categorized as “emerging nations” by the Asian Football Confederation. Games were played in Lahore, Pakistan between 20 and 30 September, 2007.
