Kuala Lumpur: Three final spots for the 2019 AFC Cup will be decided over the next week in the Central, South and East Zone Play-offs.



CENTRAL: FC Ahal (TKM) v FC Khujand (TJK)

Turkmenistan’s FC Ahal will play host to FC Khujand of Tajikistan in the first leg at the Ashgabat Stadium.

The visitors will have to be cautious of a confident Ahal, who defeated FC Alay 3-1 on aggregate in the Preliminary Stage.

Ahal will be aiming to better their 2015 campaign where they progressed past the play-offs to reach the Group Stage. Despite finishing bottom of the group that year, their recent performances suggests the Turkmenistan club is growing from strength-to strength.



Meanwhile, Khujand missed out on automatic qualification into the Group Stage after finishing behind FC Istiklol in the 2018 Tajik League, but they will determined to impress in their third attempt to make the Group Stage.

FC Ahal (TKM) v FC Khujand (TJK)

Venue: Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat

Kick-off: March 6, 18:00 UTC+5

SOUTH: Colombo FC (SRI) v Chennaiyin FC (IND)

Colombo FC of Sri Lanka will take on India’s Chennaiyin FC in what promises to be a highly exciting tie as the South Asian neighbours lock horns at the Colombo Race Course Ground.

The three-time back-to-back Sri Lankans champions will have the advantage of paying at home once again in the first leg, where their rousing support played a huge role in them claiming a 7-1 win over Transport United of Bhutan, going on to win 9-2 on aggregate in the Preliminary Stage.

Colombo have five different players who found the back of the net so far in their qualifying campaign, but Tagne Dimitri would be the man to watch after scoring a hat-trick against Transport United.

 

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#CFCInAsia #PoduMachiGoaluPosted by Chennaiyin FC on Friday, 1 March 2019

 

However, their task will not be easy despite as AFC Cup debutants Chennaiyin edged a Sunil Chhetri-led JSW Bengaluru for a spot in the AFC Cup.

The Chennai-based club will be powered by Indian international Jeje Lalpekhlua, who scored nine goals in the ISL last season, along with their Brazilian trio of skipper Mailson Alves, Raphael Augusto and Eli Sabia Filho.

Colombo FC (SRI) v Chennaiyin FC (IND)

Venue: Colombo Race Course Ground, Colombo

Kick-off: March 6, 15:30 UTC+530

EAST: Ryomyong SC (PRK) v Wofoo Tai Po (HKG)

DPR Korea’s Ryomyong SC will welcome Wofoo Tai Po of Hong Kong to the Kim Il Sung Stadium, as they seek for their first appearance in the Group Stage.

Bested by 4.25 SC domestically to finish as runners-up in the DPR Korea Premier Football League last year, the team is beginning to take shape as they flexed their muscles against Mongolia’s Erchim FC in the Preliminary Stage, recording 3-0 wins in both legs.

Kim Song-min has been Ryomyong’s key player in the past two matches, scoring three goals across the two-legs, and the 24-year-old midfielder is sure to impress if given the opportunity.

 

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Tai Po are returning to the AFC Cup after nearly nine years as Hong Kong Premier League runners-ups.

Also known as the Green Warriors, Tai Po enjoyed a fairly accomplished year in 2018, earning runners-up spots in the Hong Kong FA Cup, Senior Shield and Sapling Cup.

Currently, Tai Po are on an eight-game unbeaten streak, and after securing wins in their last two outings against Eastern SC and Kitchee SC, sit third in the league standings.

Ryomyong SC (PRK) v Wofoo Tai Po (HKG)

Venue: Kim Il Sung Stadium, Pyongyang

Kick-off: March 6, 16:00 UTC+9


Source: the-afc.com