DUSHANBE, September 28, Asia-Plus — Coach Mahmadjon Habibulloyev hailed Regar TadAZ”s AFC President”s Cup defense as a triumph over adversity after the Tajikistan side downed Kyrgyzstan”s Dordoi Dynamo 2-0 in Sunday”s final, according to website of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Regar fully deserved to claim a third continental title in five years as an early header from Ibrohim Rabimov and a second-half strike from captain and tournament MVP Khurshed Mahmoudov sealed the convincing win at Metallurg Stadium, their home ground in western Tajikistan.
But after Regar followed up a thrilling 4-3 semi-final victory over Pakistan”s WAPDA with a second consecutive AFC President”s Cup final win over Dordoi, Habibulloyev claimed his side endured difficult preparations which included losing key duo Rahmonali Barotov and Shujoat Nematov.
Regar also only ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 1-0 win over Istiqlol in the Tajikistan League last week.
“Two weeks ago we were not quite ready, we were quite broken after two very hard matches in the local league and we also lost two of our best players so we were not quite ready for these games, but we did not show that and we are happy to win,” said Habibulloyev.
“We were able to neutralize the best players of Dordoi. I am very lucky to have these players and I am the happiest coach in Tajikistan.
“Both goals were very important for us. After we scored the first the players gained more confidence and were more dynamic and the second gave us that assurance. They were tired from the last game and had to play more defensively.”
Dordoi coach Sergey Dvoryankov, meanwhile, was quick to congratulate Regar TadAZ. “The forwards of Regar TadAZ took advantage of two moments to score. We also had our chances but our forwards were not able to use them, which they struggled to in both games of this championship,” he said.
“I do not think we were flat, we played at a higher level than against Ashgabat in the semi-final because our opponents played at a higher level.”
