October 1, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 18, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 30: Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo lifted the third AFC President’s Cup by defeating Nepal’s Mahendra Police Club 2-1 in the final at the Punjab Stadium on Sunday.

Dordoi has played three finals of the event so far, winning two.

The Kyrgyzs were superior in all departments of the game and conceded the only goal in the final injury-time, when they were relaxed after gaining 2-0 lead.

Their goalkeeper V. Kashuba was declared the best player of the event.

The Fair Play Trophy also went to Dordoi-Dynamo, who also received a purse of US$50,000. The runners-up received a prize of US$25,000.

Dordoi started the proceedings without their leading stars Roman Kornilov and Ildar Amirov and went with midfielder Azamat Ishenbaev as right winger. The decision paid off as Ishenbaev opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match on penalty-kick, sweeping the ball into the right corner of the goal.

Iraq’s referee Kadhum Auda Lazim awarded the kick to Dordoi as Mahendra’s Paudel and Rabin tried to foul play with Ishenbaev.

Mahendra’s first positive move emerged in the 18th minute when their front runner Ju Mani Rai cut in from left but Dordoi’s goalkeeper Kashuba was alert under the bar.

Six minutes later, midfielder Aibek Bokoev tested Mahendra’s goalie Ritesh Thapa but missed.

Four minutes before end of the first half, Ishenbaev fed midfielder Vadim Harchenko but his attempt was wide.
After the resumption, Dordoi brought in their most dangerous player, Roman Kornilove, in the 55th minute, who set the pace of attacking. His movement and passing was a treat to watch.

Mahendra Club missed an open sitter in the 61st minute due to brilliant work by rival goalkeeper Valerii Kashuba, who dived to his left to keep the ball which was about to land in the net.

In the 68th minute, David Teetath attempted for the winners but only to send the ball over the bar.

Five minutes later, Roman eventually succeeded to double the lead for the Dordoi. He received a high flying pass from left-winger Dawon Askarov and headed it smartly leaving no chance for Mahendra’s goalkeeper Rotesh Uthappa to stop it.

After gaining 2-0 lead, Dordoi went on defensive as Mahendra Club got a chance to reduce the margin in the injury-time.
Dordoi’s Talant Samsaliev made a blunder when he received a pass on his elbow in the box. Referee awarded Mahendra a penalty-kick, which was smartly converted by Ju Manu.