Participation in the AFC Champions League 2 is a very good experience for the players of "Altyn Asyr". This was stated by the head coach of Turkmenistan's "Altyn Asyr", Yazguly Hojageldiyev, while evaluating his team's performance in the second most important Asian club tournament ahead of the home match on November 6 against Saudi club "Al-Taawoun" in the 4th round.
As a reminder, from this season, the Asian Football Confederation has reformed club competitions on the continent, establishing three new ones: the AFC Champions League Elite for the strongest clubs by ranking, the second most important tournament - AFC Champions League 2, and the lowest-ranked - AFC Challenge League.
Turkmenistan's vice-champion "Altyn Asyr", having successfully passed licensing, entered the AFC Champions League 2 - an analog of the previously existing AFC Cup, in which the team of the Turkmenaragatnashyk agency reached the final in 2018. Yazguly Hojageldiyev's charges began their performance in the new tournament from the preliminary round, at the stage of which they won away against India's "East Bengal" - 3:2 and earned the right to represent Turkmenistan in the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2.
In the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2, 32 teams participate, divided geographically into 2 zones - Western and Eastern. "Altyn Asyr" plays in group "B", where the fight for two spots in the 1/8 finals is also conducted by Saudi club "Al-Taawoun", Iraq's "Air Force" and "Al-Khaldiya" from Bahrain, all having 6 points after three rounds. "Altyn Asyr", having lost at home to "Al-Khaldiya" - 0:1 and away to "Air Force" and "Al-Taawoun" with the same score of 1:2, is currently at the bottom of the standings.
"Participation in the AFC Champions League 2 is a very good lesson and experience for our young team," said Yazguly Hojageldiyev at a press conference before the match in Ashgabat with "Al-Taawoun". "Last year we lost almost half of our squad, we had to gather a new team. Despite the fact that we are participating in this tournament for the first time, I am satisfied that with each game the team acts more confidently, the quality of play is improving."
The coach of "Altyn Asyr" also noted the determined attitude of the players before the home game with "Al-Taawoun", despite the fact that he will not be able to count on two players - Ruslan Tajiev and Dovlet Mirsultanov, who are missing the match due to an accumulation of cards.
"We have a serious opponent - 80 percent of "Al-Taawoun's" players are foreigners. Nevertheless, the guys have a good attitude. We are happy to participate in the AFC Champions League 2," emphasized Y. Hojageldiyev.
"Altyn Asyr's" forward Rahman Myratberdiyev also assured that the team is fully prepared for the match and intends to "fight for the country and the fans."
The match between "Altyn Asyr" and Saudi Arabia's "Al-Taawoun" will take place at the central arena of the multifunctional Ashgabat stadium. Football club "Altyn Asyr" announced free entry to the game, which will start at 19:00.
