Action from the Regar-TadAZ-Pakistan Army match. Photo by: AFC/Stanley Chou

LAHORE: Tajikistan's Regar-TadAZ beat Pakistan Army 2-1 to stay on top of their group and become the first side to qualify for the semi-final of the AFC President's Cup here on Saturday night.

Billed as one of the favourites along with their Central Asian neighbours Dordoi-Dynamo, Regar-TadAZ were far from their fluent best. Indeed it was the home club, Pakistan Army that enjoyed predominance for the better of the match. But to their great chagrin, the Army men woefully lacked the finishing touch.

And then two goals by Regar-TadAZ in a flash in the second half took the wind out of Pakistan Army's sails. They kept on fighting gamely, but were to pull only one back to lose by the odd goal in three.

To their credit though, the Pakistan Army, through a combination of good defence and attacking flair, punched above its weight to keep Regar-TadAZ at bay throughout the first half. This must have surprised Regar-TadAZ, the side that only the other day had an easy sailing while annihilating Bhutan's Transport United 13-0.

Pakistan Army's Faheem Riaz, Adnan Bari and Michael Masih had botched the opportunities that came their way, Regar-Tadaz forward Maruf Rustomov kicked one over Jaffar Khan's head on top of the cross. Faheem missed another good ball from Adnan near the circle and that brought the first half to a close at 0-0.

The second half was a rather eventful one, and Pakistan Army created a slew of chances and between 51st and 60th minute, they had as many as three shots at the goal but had nothing to show for it.

Subdued and defensive till now, Regar-TadAZ now started making their moves in earnest but must have been disappointed at Farrukh Choriev's fierce shot hitting the crossbar.

But then two goals in quick succession in the 65th and 68th minutes, the first through a rebound slotted home Abbos Abdullayev and the second Mansurdzhon Hakimov's angular drive that left Pakistan Army's custodian Jaffar Khan wrong footed, wrested the initiative for them.

In a scramble near the circle, Umar Draz Baloch reduced the deficit for Pakistan Army in the 73rd minute but from here on Regar-TadAZ was held firm.

Regar-TadAZ coach Makhmodjon Khabibulloev said that Pakistan Army played a good game. “They started defensively and didn't play an open game. But we played very well and though we couldn't score until the 65th minute, we knew the goals would come". For his part, Pakistan Army coach Shaukat Ali was very happy with the performance of his boys. "Our first objective was to draw the game and a win would only have been a bonus,” he said, mentioning that his side too had created many opportunities only to fail in making them count.