Istiklol produced a second-half fightback on Wednesday to beat FC Goa 2-1 in their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Group D match.
However, the victory was not enough to progress as Tajikistan finished third on goal difference behind Iraq’s Al Zawraa.
The home side, who had yet to score a point, took the lead in the eighth minute, with Dejan Drazic finding space in the penalty area before finishing superbly with a curling effort into the top right corner.
Istiklol responded seven minutes later when Amirbek Juraboev tested FC Goa keeper Lara Sharma from distance, while Siavash Haghnazari tried to lob the ball over Sharma from Paul Komolafe’s setup a minute later, only to see his shot bounce against the crossbar.
FC Goa came close to doubling their lead moments later when Iker Guarrotxena forced Nikola Stosic to tip away his stinging shot from distance with the Spanish forward and send his headed effort from the resulting corner over the crossbar.
Istiklol threatened from distance through Ehsoni Panjshanbe and Marlen Chobanov before Komolafe directed his headed effort straight into the arms of Sharma in first-half stoppage time.
The Tajikistan side came back fighting in the second half, with Komolafe holding on to Harsh Patre’s poor backpass before finishing Sharma to level the tie in the 53rd minute.
Another defensive error saw the Indian Super League side fall behind after Pol Moreno was awarded a penalty for a handball, with Amirbek Juraboev converting from the spot in the 56th minute.
FC Goa tried their best to respond but Brison Fernandes and Guarrotxena’s efforts failed to reach the target as Istiklol held on for the win.
AFC media
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