Tajikistan U20 claimed a comfortable four-goal win against Afghanistan U20 in the second round of the AFC U20 Cup group stage on Wednesday. The visitors took control early in the contest and never looked back as they moved clear on the scoreboard. It was a result that stood in sharp contrast to Afghanistan's recent form, which had seen them struggle to find their rhythm in competitive matches.
A. Sharopov opened the scoring in the eighteenth minute, giving Tajikistan an early advantage. The momentum shifted quickly as the visitors added three more goals within a twenty-minute spell, including strikes in the twenty-second, thirtieth and thirty-eighth minutes. By then, Afghanistan had little to respond with as the gap opened to three clear goals.
And here's the thing about matches like this — they reveal more than the scoreline suggests. Afghanistan had not won any of their previous five fixtures, drawing one and losing four, while Tajikistan showed they could convert their chances when it mattered most. The visitors' recent record included mixed results against Lebanon and Oman, but this performance showed a different level of composure.
The final goal came in the eighty-ninth minute, adding a touch of ceremony to an already dominant display. Tajikistan's attacking movement had been sharp throughout, and they made no mistake when the opportunity presented itself. Afghanistan's defence had been stretched repeatedly, and there was no recovery possible in the closing stages.
To be fair, the result did not come as a total surprise given the context of both teams' campaigns. Tajikistan had already faced Afghanistan in May and won 2-0 away, so this victory extended their advantage over their neighbours. The visitors now have a strong position within the group standings after this comprehensive performance.