DUSHANBE, September 26, 2009, Asia-Plus — Substitute Marouf Rustamov stuck his second dramatic goal of a pulsating AFC President”s Cup semi-final on September 25 as defending champions Regar-TadAZ fought back three times to edge out Pakistan”s WAPDA 4-3 in extra-time.
Regar were already trailing to Arifi”s first-half free-kick when Komil Saidov was sent-off just before the hour mark for the apparent use of an elbow.
Ibrohim Rabimov pulled Regar level with 16 minutes remaining only for Mehmood to put WAPDA within seven minutes of becoming the first Pakistani team to reach the final of an AFC event.
But defender Rustamov, playing in a more advanced attacking role since his second-half introduction, headed home in the first minute of added time to force extra-time.
WAPDA substitute Bakhshoo again silenced the home crowd 13 minutes in the first extra period.
But two minutes later, with the last kick of the half Hasan Rustamov, the younger of the two Rustamov brothers who was also on as a second-half substitute, rifled home a third equalizer before Marouf sent the home side into Sunday”s final against Dordoi Dynamo with just minutes remaining of an enthralling contest.
We will recall that Metallurg Stadium, the home of Tajikistan side Regar-TadAZ, has staged the final stages of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup 2009.
The AFC President”s Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Generally, clubs which represent each nation are the current champions of their domestic football leagues.
