Etihad Club Women secured a commanding 5:1 victory over CSKA-Pamir Dushanbe Women in the preliminary round of the AFC Women's Champions League on Wednesday, 20 August. The result comes after both sides had been in action just three days earlier, with Etihad drawing 2:2 with Al-Nasr Women while CSKA-Pamir suffered a 0:3 defeat to Bam Hatun Women.
And here's the thing — Etihad's away visitors showed no signs of the fatigue that might have been expected. They took control of the preliminary tie from the outset, capitalising on the home side's defensive vulnerabilities. CSKA-Pamir, by then, were already navigating the aftershocks of their heavy loss in their previous fixture.
The away side's recent record tells a different story. They've seen flashes of form with a 4:0 win over Kelana and a 3:1 victory against Sdyushor Si Women, though results have been mixed with defeats to Lion City and Odisha. That experience showed through against CSKA-Pamir, who struggled to contain the movement in the final third.
Etihad's performance suggested they'd learned from their previous encounters. They didn't rush the game unnecessarily, instead maintaining structure and waiting for openings to present themselves. The goal difference reflects a comfortable afternoon, though the match itself was far from one-sided from the start.
What matters for Etihad now is building momentum. A fourth straight positive result — counting their draw against Al-Nasr — would give them confidence heading deeper into the preliminary stages. They have the tempo to raise when needed, and Wednesday's display showed they can punish teams that leave space.
For CSKA-Pamir, the result lands heavily. Conceding five goals in a tournament match after losing 0:3 three days prior suggests they're still finding their feet. The gap between them and the rest of the field at this stage is clear, and there's work to do before the next encounter.