Istiklol defeated Kuwait’s Al Arabi 2-0 in the second round of the 2026/27 AFC Challenge League group stage.
The Group B match was played on October 20 at Central Stadium in Hisor.
Istiklol took the lead in the 39th minute, with Rustam Soirov finishing a move set up by Ehson Panjshanbe.
Alisher Shukurov made it 2-0 late in the game. The midfielder came off the bench in the 82nd minute and scored three minutes later from a Shervoni Mabatshoev assist.
It was Istiklol’s first win of the group stage. The Tajik champions had lost their opening match 1-0 to Lebanon’s Nejmeh.
In the other Matchday 2 fixture, Syria’s Homs Al Fidaa beat Nejmeh 2-1. Homs Al Fidaa now lead the group with six points, while Istiklol and Nejmeh have three each. Al Arabi have lost both of their matches.
Istiklol will face Homs Al Fidaa in the final round on October 23. If Nejmeh fail to beat Al Arabi, a win over the Syrian side will be enough for Istiklol to finish top of the group.
If Nejmeh win their match, Istiklol will still finish first regardless of the result of the other game if they beat Homs Al Fidaa by at least two goals.
That scenario is based on AFC competition regulations. If three teams finish level on points, their head-to-head results are considered first.
Nejmeh have already beaten Istiklol 1-0, while Homs Al Fidaa defeated Nejmeh 2-1. For example, a 2-0 win for Istiklol over the Syrian side would leave the Tajik club with a +1 goal difference in the three-team head-to-head table. Nejmeh would have a goal difference of 0, while Homs Al Fidaa would be on -1.
Under the tournament regulations, the three group winners from the West Region and the best runner-up advance to the quarter-finals.