Regar-TadAZ's Mansurdzhon Hakimov goes for a header as a Ratnam defender looks on during their AFC President's Cup match in Lahore. Photo by AFC/Stanley Chou

LAHORE: Pakistan Army crashed out of the AFC President’s Cup after losing to Bhutan’s Transport United 3-2 at the Punjab Stadium here on Tuesday.

The result knocked both sides out of the reckoning for a spot in the last four.

In the simultaneously played second encounter at the Railway Stadium, Regar-TadAZ beat Ratnam Sports Club by a solitary goal that came from Abbos Abdullayev in the 66th minute after the first half remained goalless.

But the result did not matter for Ratnam, as both these sides still qualified for the semifinals.

While it definitely was great redemption for Transport United, the side that had conceded 19 goals in its two previous encounters, the result was a serious embarrassment for Pakistan Army, with atrocious missing from close range causing the setback.

Needing five clear goals to make it to the knock-out stage, penetrating deep into the Transport United defence was not a problem for the Pakistan Army. Translating it into goals and making it reflect on the scoreboard definitely was. There were opportunities galore, indeed by the dozen in both halves, but only two of them were converted, each around 45 minutes apart, with the rest falling in the realm of botched efforts.

Though it must be said that Transport United's goalkeeper Puspalal Sharma had a great game, standing alone between certain defeat and victory, still it was the goal-shy Pakistan Army forwards and midfielders who helped him all along.

Pakistan Army were all over Transport United almost throughout, with

the latter getting breaks that were so few and far between. But the difference was that Transport United made those opportunities count. And that resulted in Pakistan Army eating humble pie for the second event running at the hands of Transport United, who had in the previous edition of the AFC President's Cup downed them 1-0.

The margin of defeat was still the same, and Wangay Dorji the lone scorer then, this time pumped in two for good measure.

The first few minutes decided the drift of the game that unfortunately for them Pakistan Army could not change. Dorji had already earned Transport United the lead in the fifth minute while Pakistan Army's Imran Hussain shot found the steel frame.

Pakistan Army fought hard to pull it back, only to be mortified when Sonam Jamtsho slotted another past the Army goalie from a Dorji pass. There was some consolation for the Army boys when they finally got a goal in the 45th minute through Muhammad Shabbir, who as if in slow motion drew the goalie and then beat the defender on the line to make it 2-1.

The second half again saw Dorji put one over the wall from a free kick with a fierce shot that tore into the left corner to make it 3-1 in the 74th minute. That put the issue beyond Pakistan Army, who got another goal in injury time through Faheem Riaz but it was a case of too little too late.

Transport United coach Nidup Dorjee was happy with the result. “We had nothing to lose and I told my players to play freely. They played good football.”

“I am happy that despite limited resources we finished third in the group. Last year also we earned three points beating the same team. Anyway, it was a good result for us.”

Pakistan Army coach Shaukat Ali said: “My players failed to implement the gameplan today. There was no pressure on them as I told them to just play their natural game and win the match.”