We're almost there, says Dzhalilov
Bengaluru: Manuchehr Dzhalilov says that FC Istiklol have just one final step to make in order to reach a second AFC Cup final in three years as the Tajikistan champions prepare to face India’s JSW Bengaluru in the second leg of the Inter-Zone final on Wednesday.
Having finished as runners-up on their debut campaign in 2015, Istiklol were eliminated at the group stage last year, but have come back strongly in the 2017 edition and remain unbeaten in nine games.
Dmitri Barkov’s first-half header secured a narrow 1-0 victory over 2016 runners-up Bengaluru three weeks ago and the side will now go into the second leg at Sree Kanteerava Stadium knowing that should they avoid defeat a place in the final – which would be held in Dushanbe – is assured.
“We have come so far in the tournament so of course we want to win against Bengaluru and make the final,” said Dzhalilov, who currently tops his side’s scoring charts with seven goals.
“Their main strength is their two tall central defenders at the back and they also have a good tactical coach who has worked in Spain. But we have only one step left, just 90 minutes, and we can do it.”
After a disappointing group stage exit in 2016 followed their runners-up finish a year earlier, the five-time Tajikistan champions came back strongly this year and Dzhalilov scored five times on route to his side topping Group D.
The striker then added two more to his tally in a 4-0 first-leg victory over Ceres Negros of the Philippines in the Inter-Zone semi-final as Istiklol eventually advanced 5-1 on aggregate.
Dzhalilov is now just two goals behind the tournament's top scorer, Kim Yu-song of 4.25 SC, but is the highest goal scorer left in the tournament and will likely be the biggest threat to 2016 runners-up Bengaluru, who have won four from four at home.
“I think a lot of the credit [for our form] has to go to the coach because we had a good pre-season. Our main goal was to reach the AFC Cup final and now we are just one step from it,” added Dzhalilov.
“I’m very happy with the number of goals I’ve scored and I hope I can keep scoring. My favourite goal was against Ceres Negros, when we won 4-0, and I scored from outside the box. As soon as I got the ball I was thinking about shooting and it ended up in the goal.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com
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