Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tripoli: Lebanon Cup holders Tripoli Club will play in the group stages of the 2016 AFC Cup after notching up a 7-6 penalty shootout win over Kyrgyzstan’s FC Alay as the teams’ playoff clash ended in a scoreless draw at the end of extra-time on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Abdo Tafeh was the hero for Tripoli as he saved Murolimzhon Ahkmedov’s spot kick to ensure the home team progressed to Group B, where they will meet Naft Al Wasat of Iraq, Jordan’s Al Faisaly and last season’s finalists, Istiklol from Tajikistan.
“I’ve had several experiences in the AFC Cup but today’s match was the hardest due to the close difference between the two sides,” said Tripoli coach Nizar Mahrous.
“We controlled the match and created several scoring chances but we were not lucky and their goalkeeper was good.
“We deserved to win tonight because the players put a lot of effort and it was really good for us because we eventually qualified to the group stage. We should be preparing very well because we still have difficult matches in the competition.”
Tafeh’s save made amends for a first half miss from the penalty spot by Mohamad Ghaddar, who was denied by FC Alay goalkeeper Valeri Kashuba in the 34th minute of a first half in which Tripoli had taken the upper hand after a strong start by the Kyrgyz side.
Kashuba continued to impress between the posts for the visitors, keeping Tripoli at bay throughout the second half and his performance was instrumental in taking the game into extra-time.
But in the end it was his opposite number Tafeh who was the hero as Tripoli progressed, and the Lebanese side will travel to Tehran to face Naft Al Wasat in their opening fixture on February 23.
“We had a good performance tonight and we could have got a victory against a good team who had excellent players,” said FC Alay coach Nemat Koshokov. “We tried our best to stop their players, especially their foreigners, and we successfully managed to do so.
“We wanted to win and qualify to the group stage but at the end of the day there has to be a loser and it was FC Alay. I want to congratulate Tripoli who had a good performance and will continue in the competition.”