Dushanbe: Afghanistan suffered a narrow 2–0 defeat against Tajikistan in today’s CAFA Nations Cup Group B encounter, leaving fans disappointed as the team struggled to break through a resilient Tajik defense.
The match opened with intensity from both sides, but it was Tajikistan who drew first blood. In the 23rd minute, Ekhson Pandzhshanbe converted a well-taken penalty, giving the visitors an early advantage. Afghanistan pressed for an equalizer throughout the first half, creating a few promising chances, but were unable to find the net.
In the second half, Afghanistan’s attempts to regain control were met with strong defensive work from Tajikistan, whose midfield and backline remained organized under pressure. Despite a few close calls, the Afghan forwards could not capitalize.
The game was effectively sealed in stoppage time, when Shervoni Mabatshoev scored Tajikistan’s second goal in the third minute of added time, putting the match beyond Afghanistan’s reach.
This result leaves Afghanistan with a challenging task in the group stage, as the team now looks to regroup and improve coordination, especially in attack, before their next fixture. Analysts pointed out that while Afghanistan showed moments of creativity, defensive lapses and missed chances ultimately cost them the match.
Match Summary:
- Afghanistan 0–2 Tajikistan
- Goals: Ekhson Pandzhshanbe (23’ PEN), Shervoni Mabatshoev (90+3’)
- Key Observations: The Afghan attack struggled to break down Tajikistan’s defense; strong penalty conversion and a late counter from Tajikistan proved decisive.
Afghanistan will aim to bounce back in their upcoming CAFA Nations Cup fixtures, hoping to secure points and keep their qualification hopes alive.