For the first time in history, Tajikistan tied with Iran - 2:2, showing character and will to fight. However, despite the comeback from 0:2, our team finished the group in third place and leaves the tournament. “Asia-Plus” analyzes the past match.

The match against Iran was expected to be the main test for the Tajik national team, and it lived up to expectations. The first half was dominated by the visitors, with striker Mohammad Mohebi, one of the leaders of the Iranian attack, scoring a double and giving his team a 2-0 lead at halftime.

It seemed that the game was over, but in the second half, the hosts showed a remarkable fighting spirit.

Photo: CAFA

In the 58th minute, Shakhrom Samiev scored after a precise pass from Panjshanbe, and in the 74th minute, Zoir Juraev equalized the score after a set-piece play - 2:2. The support of the stands at the Central Stadium in Gissar helped our players turn the tide of the game, and the final minutes were played in a series of attacks by both teams.

This was the first draw between Tajikistan and Iran in their history of face-to-face matches, and it demonstrated that the team is capable of competing with top-level opponents.

 

The final score

Despite the heroism in the match against Iran, Tajikistan's tournament fate was affected by the mistakes made in previous games. In the opening round, our team unexpectedly lost to India with a score of 1:2. The missed penalty by Rustam Soirov and the blunder by goalkeeper Mukhriddin Hasanov were key factors in the defeat.

In the second round, the Tajik team defeated Afghanistan 2-0, but the final result was not in our favor. In the parallel match of the third round, Afghanistan drew with India 0-0, and this draw deprived Tajikistan of second place. The Indians were ranked higher based on additional criteria.

Photo: CAFA

At the end of Group B, the Iranian team took first place with seven points and advanced to the final of the tournament, where they will face the winner of Group A. The Indian team took second place with four points and will compete for third place in the tournament. Tajikistan finished third with four points, while Afghanistan finished fourth with one point.

 

Errors of the tournament

The main problem of the Tajikistan team in the tournament is the instability of the goalkeeper and defense lines.

Photo: CAFA

In key moments, there was a lack of reliability. For Tajikistan, the CAFA Nations Cup is not the end of the season, but an important stage in preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In October, the team will play two matches against the Maldives, and in November, they will travel to East Timor. In March 2026, they will host the Philippines in the final qualifying game.

The main goal is to correct the mistakes made during the CAFA Nations Cup, which demonstrated that the team has potential but needs more stability and focus to reach the next level.