Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Thimphu: Pakistan’s K-Electric FC put themselves in the driving seat for a place in the 2016 AFC Cup Play-offs after edging Khoromkhon FC 1-0 on Thursday, putting the pressure on hosts Druk United who must now beat the Mongolians in the final Group A match on Saturday.
The introduction of substitute Abayomi Oludeyi proved to be the game changer with the Nigerian forward scoring the only goal of a tense and occasional scrappy encounter with 16 minutes at the Changlimithang Stadium remaining.
K-Electric coach Majid Shafiq made two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Druk United in Tuesday’s opening fixture with defender Habib-Ur Rehman, scorer of the Pakistan champions’ 86th minute equaliser against the Group A hosts, and Shahnoor Qayum starting in place of Aurangzeb and Abayomi Oludeyi
A poor first-half punctuated by sloppily surrendered possession and a failure to find the final ball that would create a goal-scoring opportunity sparked to life in the 24th minute when Khoromkhon keeper Uros Poljanec reacted sharply to block at the feet of Muhammad Riaz, who was gifted a run at goal following a mistake by Oyunbaatar Otgonbayar.
Neither side came close to scoring for the remainder of the half although Slovenian stopper Poljanec had to be alert to ensure Riaz’s 43rd minute corner didn’t curl directly into the goal.
The second period was a much livelier affair with both keepers finally being called into serious action with Poljanec making a superb one-handed save from Oludeyi’s 70th minute diving header before the Nigerian, who came on two minutes before the interval in place of Qayum, scored the match-winner with a low angled drive across the face of goal that beat the Khoromkhon keeper at his far post.
With four points from a possible six following Thursday’s win and their opening 3-3 draw with Druk United, K-Electric will be hoping that Khoromkhon will avoid defeat to the Bhutanese champions when the curtain comes down on Group A of the AFC Cup 2016 Play-off Qualifiers on Saturday.
Photo: WSG