Goal in either halves of the match from African forwards Leonce Dodoz and Adewumi Femi also helped the home side to become the first team to register win in the ongoing qualifiers. [break]Earlier in the first match, Taiwan Power Company (TPC) of Chinese Taipei and Abahani Limited of Bangladesh had played 1-1 draw. In the inaugural day, both the match had ended in draw with Three Star settling for 1-1 draw against Abahani and TPC playing a goalless stalemate against Erchim.
Three Star which lies at the top of the table with four points can confirm place in the final rounds if it achieves draw in the last group match against TPC whatever the outcome of other match. Abahani and TPC are in the second and third place with two points apiece while Erchim hit the bottom of table with only one point after the completion of second round. Top two teams will qualify for the final rounds.
On Thursday, Three Star which had rested its skipper cum forward Santosh Sahukhala and lacked coordination looked too strong for visiting Erchim and created as many as half a dozen hances while Erchim failed to produced even a single threatening move.
Dodoz, the new signing for Three Star put the home side ahead in the 10th minute directing the ball at the open net just ahead of the goalline. Jagjeet Shrestha had made the work easy for Dodoz beating custodian Bodoo before passing it.
Adewumi Femi, sealed victory for Three Star in the 64th making a perfect header to convert Saroj Dahal cross from the right side.
"We failed to perform and also lacked coordination, but goal is more important and we achieved it," said Three Star coach Pradip Humagain during post match conference.
Regarding his side´s possibility of making into next round, Humagain said, "We had strong chance for next round since the beginning and we still have better chance than other."
In the very third minute, Prakash Budahthoki tapped high above bar from close range in Bikram Limbu pass. In the 52nd Limbu wasted scoring chance as he fired wide from the penalty spot on one-on-one situation. Three minutes later, goalie Bodoo made a brilliant punch to deny Prakash Budhathoki´s free header from the crossbar in Jagjeet Shrestha corner.
Erchim FC coach D Batnasan opined that the match was very hard for his side and lamented on the absence of his two key players -- regular skipper due to match suspension and forward due to injury picked during the first match. Batnasan was, however, optimistic that his side could still have chance of making into the next round.
Earlier in the day´s kick off, Abahani took fifth minute lead through Rony in Ibrahim cross. TPC goalie K-C Lu dropped ball from his grip in a challenge with Rony letting the ball inside the goalline. But TPC replied in the 14th minute with KC Hung firing the equalizer. Hung fired at an open net in a brilliant back pass set by M-C He who had already beat advancing custodian Sohel.
TPC was unlucky not to get the back of net as C-Y Kuo close range strike hit the upright and K-C Hung shot inches wide in rebounder.
TPC coach Chen Kuei-Jen expressed dissatisfaction towards the results but lauded his side´s effort. "We will amend our mistake and try to win next match," Jen said. Abahani coach Ardeshier Pour Nemat Noudehi opined that his side conceded due to defensive lapses.
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