KATHMANDU, Aug 25: National league champion Ruslan Three Star Club has progressed to the final rounds of the AFC Cup play-off qualifiers as Group B champion. Three Star's entry to the next round was confirmed after home team Erchim FC of Mongolia overcame Cambodian outfit Nagaworld 1-0 in the last match of the group on Thursday.
Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan and Tatung FC of Chinese Taipei have also progressed to the next round from Group A and C respectively.
Erchim registered the victory over Cambodian opponent after midfielder Davaajav Battur scored the only goal of the match in the injury time. Among the three teams of Group B, Three Star collected four points with a win and a draw to make it to the next round. Host Erchim finished second with three points from two matches while Nagaworld remained at the bottom with just a point.
Three Star had started the qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Erchim on Sunday and settled for a 1-1 draw with Nagaworld.
Three Star team members were at Mongolia Football Federation (MFF) ground on Thursday to watch the match between Erchim and Nagaworld.
They celebrated from the parapet after Erchim scored the goal in the dying minute, which eventually sent Three Star to the next round.
Three Star head coach Megh Raj KC expressed his happiness over entry into the next round.
“We got this achievement due to hard work of the players. My boys played for pride of the nation,” said KC after the match between Erchim and Nagaworld.
Captain Bikram Lama who was overwhelmed with the achievement said that the progress to the next round was possible due to the work of club management and love of the supporters.
AFC is organizing the AFC Cup play-offs in coming January where eight teams will participate. However, AFC hasn't officially informed about the participating teams and venue.
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