Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani got North Korean outfits 4.25 Sporting Club in their first ever match in the AFC Cup knockout stages as the draw of the inter-zone semifinals and zonal semifinals was held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia on Tuesday.
The Sky Blues will host the first leg of the inter-zone semifinal at Bangabandhu National Stadium on August 21 before flying to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang for the second leg on August 28.
The 2018 runners-up Altyn Asyr of Turkmenistan will play in the other inter-zone semifinals against the winners of all-Vietnamese ASEAN Zonal final between Becamex Binh Duong and Hanoi FC. The winners of the inter-zone semifinals will compete in the two-leg final on September 25 and October 2 to decide which team advances to the AFC Cup final on November 2 against the West Zonal champions.
Earlier, Abahani emerged as champions from the South Asian zone with four wins out of six games and became the first club from Bangladesh to reach the knockout stages. The Sky Blues’ Portuguese head coach Mario Lemos views the draw as a ‘good challenge’ for the team.
“I watched them (4.25 SC) play last season in the AFC Cup. I also followed their results this season as they won five out of six matches. They are a strong side, disciplined, aggressive and have fast players up front. It will be a good challenge and we are looking forward to it.” said Lemos to Dhaka Tribune.
