23th-24th August 2020
Tajikistan Higher League
Gameweek 13
Istaravshan 1-2 Istiklol
(Ashurmamadov 23; Panjshanbe 59pen, Soirov 89)
Istaravshan’s 23rd-minute opener against the league leaders certainly wasn’t in the script. As Istiklol failed to clear their lines from a corner, on the edge of the six yard box, Ashurmamadov’s instinctive thump proved too powerful, slipping between the keeper’s gloves to give the 8th-placed hosts the lead. As the end of the first half neared, the Lions looked likely to draw level as A. Dzhalilov was hauled down in the penalty area. M. Dhzalilov’s strike from the spot, however, was acrobatically saved by the Istaravshan shot-stopper, preserving their advantage. It took until the 59th minute for the visitors to level through a second penalty; this time dispatched clinically by Panjshanbe. As the final whistle loomed and the hosts looked to have secured a well-earned point, their hard work was cruelly undone; Soirov tucking in from close range in the 89th minute to clinch Istiklol’s 11th win of the campaign.
Regar-TadAZ 0-0 Lokomotiv-Pamir
Khatlon 0-0 CSKA
Khujand 2-0 Fayzkand
(Bozorov 34, Barotov 47)
Kuktosh 2-2 Dushanbe-83
(Nazarov 44, Dieudoni 61; Rashidbekov 14, Murodov 69)