«Arkadag» earned another point in the AFC-2 Champions League, drawing 1-1 with «Andijan» of Uzbekistan in the 5^th round of Group «B».

The game took place at the «Bobur Arena» in «Andijan» in front of 15 000 spectators.

As a reminder, «Arkadag» and «Andijan» are both making their debut in the AFC-2 Champions League. «Arkadag» is participating in second-largest club competition of Asia for the first time as the winner of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League (the third-ranking tournament in Asia). And «Andijan» won the Uzbekistan Cup for the first time in its history last year, qualifying for the AFC-2 Champions League. In the current national championship, with one game remaining in the Uzbekistan Super League, «Andijan» is in 11^th place among 16 teams. «Arkadag» successfully defended its title as strongest club of Turkmenistan, winning the national championship for the third consecutive time.

The first match of teams on the 17^th of September in Arkadag, coached by 47-year-old former «Dynamo» Kiyev player Maksim Shatskikh, ended in a 0-0 draw. Before the return match in «Andijan», 39-year-old former Uzbekistan national team player Akmal Shorahmedov replaced Maksim Shatskih as head coach of the Uzbek club.

With the starting whistle from Kuwaiti referee Abdullah Jamali, the hosts launched an attack. Having withstood the onslaught, men of Vladimir Bayramov soon settled into a calmer atmosphere. The first half was devoid of any real scoring opportunities. The main events of the match occurred after the break.

In the 63^rd minute, «Andijan» opened the scoring: Abdulvohid Gulomov crossed from the right flank to Nigerian international Ismaheel Akinade, who won an aerial duel with Ibrahim Mammedov and headed the ball into the goal. Video replays showed the Nigerian was offside at the time of the pass, but due to the lack of VAR in AFC Champions League matches, the goal was upheld.

However, the joy of hosts was short-lived. In the 68^th minute, Shamammet Hydyrov crossed from the left flank to Didar Durdyyev, and the top scorer of Turkmenistan Championship, beating defender Shahzod Azmiddinov, headed the ball past Mohir Komilov, who had broken through.

«Andijan» could have snatched victory late in the match. But two superb saves by Resul Charyyev in the first minute of stoppage time secured a 1-1 draw.

Notably, this is the fifth consecutive draw for «Andijan» of Uzbekistan and the third for «Arkadag» of Turkmenistan.

Earlier, in another match of the fifth round, «Al-Khaldiya» of Bahrain lost 2-1 at home to «Al-Ahli» of Qatar, relinquishing top spot in the league table. «Al-Romayhi» scored for the hosts (74^th minute). Fettouhi (65^th) and Umar Yansane (90^th) scored for the visitors, who snatched victory in the final minute of regulation time.

After this, the Group «B» standings look like this: «Al-Ahli» has 7 points, «Al-Haldiya» has 6, «Andijan» has 5, and «Arkadag» has 4.

Therefore, «Arkadag» still has a chance to advance to the playoffs before the final round. To do so, they must win their home match against Bahraini runners-up «Al-Haldiya» on the 24^th of December, while «Andijan» must lose or draw in their away match against Qatari «Al-Ahli».

As a reminder, the top two teams from the group stage will advance to the AFC Champions League Round of 16.