LAHORE, Sept 26: Group ‘A’ leaders Regar TadAZ, Tajikistan, will take on Group ‘B’ runners-up Mahendra Police Club, Nepal, in the first semi-final of the third AFC President’s Cup at the Punjab Stadium on Thursday at 7.30pm.

The other semi-final between Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo and Sri Lanka’s Ratnam Sports Club will be played on Friday.

Regar will be playing as hot favourites in the presence of captain Khurshed Makhmudov, who struck five goals against Bhutan’s Transport United on opening day, and midfielder Ibraguim Rabimov, who was among the ten players nominated for AFC Player of the Year 2006 award.

Founded in 1950, Regar TadAZ is based in Tursunzade, Tajikistan, and play home matches at Metallurg Stadium. It takes part in top division soccer in the country.

Regar created history by winning the first AFC President’s Cup, defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo 3-0 in the final.

The two teams are again likely to meet in the final as Dordoi-Dynamo have also qualified for the semi-finals as Group ‘B’ champions.

Mahendra Police will start the semi-final, knowing it will be an uphill task to beat the Tajiks. Under Ramesh Budhatoki, Mahendra have so far struck only six goals in three matches. All their goals were scored against Cambodia’s Khemara.—Sports Correspondent