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Victory Over "East Bengal"** The footballers of "Arkadag" continue their impressive run in the AFC Challenge League, securing a spot in the tournament's semifinals after a hard-fought victory over India's "East Bengal" across two legs. The first match, held last week in Kolkata, ended with a 1-0 win for the Turkmen team.

The decisive return match took place today in the "smart" city of Arkadag, marking the first international game hosted in the city. The 10,000-seat stadium was packed to capacity, with fans eagerly anticipating a triumph from their beloved team. The game began with an unexpected setback for the hosts. Within the first minute, "East Bengal" took the lead — Dimitrios Diamantakos’s shot rebounded to Rafael Messi Bouli, who sent the ball into the net.

Vladimir Bayramov's squad immediately pressed for an equalizer, but the Indian club defended resolutely and launched dangerous counterattacks. In the 17th minute, "East Bengal" nearly doubled their lead when Diamantakos struck the post. The turning point came in the 33rd minute when "East Bengal" was reduced to ten men after Lalchungnunga received a red card for a foul on Yazklych Kurbanov. Despite being a man down, the visitors continued to create chances and hold their defensive line.

The final moments proved decisive. In the 89th minute, Shanazar Tyrkyshov won a penalty, which Altymyrat Annadurdyyev confidently converted. Deep into added time, Annadurdyyev struck again, finishing a precise pass from a teammate to secure a 2-1 victory. With a 3-1 aggregate score, "Arkadag" advanced to the AFC Challenge League semifinals in their debut season. The team will face the winner of the "Al-Arabi" (Kuwait) vs. "Al-Seeb" (Oman) matchup on April 9 and 16. The AFC Challenge League is Asia's third-tier club competition, offering emerging teams a chance to shine on the international stage. "Arkadag" has already proven they are ready to compete for top honors.

Photo: sport.kg