Tajikistan's Hakimov (L) advances to embrace teammate Rabief who scored a goal against Kyrgyzstan. Photo by: AFC / Anisur Rahman

DHAKA: Two-goal Yusuf Rabiev took Tajikistan into the final of the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup with a 2-0 win over their central Asian neighbours Kyrgyzstan in the semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.

They will play Sri Lanka in the April 16 final at the same venue.

Tajikistan rushed early blood when Khurshed Makhmudov raced into the box with a loose ball after a third minute corner by Odil Irgashev. Makhmudov’s powerful left-footer gave goalkeeper Vladislav Volkov no chance but Sergey Kniazev cleared it from the goalline.

Tajikistan won possession now and again in the middle but Kyrgyzstan kept things tight with a six-pack defence, not allowing the opposition any space in the danger zone.

The pressure told six minutes into the second half when Rabiev stabbed home from close after Dzhomikhon Muhidinov’s flick on a right-flank cross by fullback Dzhamolidin Oev rebounded off a defender.

Kyrgyzstan struggled in absence of injured striker Andrey Krasnov and coach Boris Podkorytov immediately made two changes, bringing in Davron Askarov and Sardorbek Askarov replacing Ruslan Djamshidov and Aibek Bokoev, but they failed to get out of their defensive shell.

It was Volkov’s reflex that kept them in the game when the Kyrgyzstan goaltender held a close-range effort by Ibraguim Rabimov on a corner by Numondzhon Hakimov in the 62nd minute.

Vladimir Verevkin came with 15 minutes remaining and the substitute Kyrgyzstan striker got a golden chance to equalise when Vadim Harchenco set him with a right-wing centre in the 78th minute. Verevkin shrugged off the last defender but his shot was blocked by rival captain and goalkeeper Aslidin Khabibulloev who left out of his line. The ball ran to Azamat Ishenbaev but his 20-yard drive sailed over the empty post.

Rabiev sealed the victory in the last minute of the three-minute injury time with his fourth goal in the tournament when he placed the ball past Volkov after substitute Shujoat Nematov’s hard work at left flank.

Tajikistan coach Sharif Nazarov told that his players started to show tiredness. “Everything went according to plan and I am looking forward to play in the final. I have seen the Nepal-Sri Lanka semifinal and have certain plans for Sri Lanka," Nazarov told.

Podkorytov admitted that his boys were not up to the mark.

“Our strategy was to counter attack but it did not work out the way I wanted. My players failed to rise on the occasion like they did against Palestine. And Krasnov’s absence definitely affected our attack,” he said.