Tajik clubs made contrasting starts to the 2026/27 AFC Challenge League group stage, with Regar-TadAZ coming from behind to beat India’s FC Goa 2-1, while Istiklol suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lebanon’s Nejmeh.
Regar-TadAZ fell behind after just eight minutes when Chiki opened the scoring for Goa and spent most of the match chasing an equaliser.
The turnaround came late. Faridun Davlatov levelled the score with a long-range strike in the 85th minute before completing the comeback in the 90th, heading home Abdurahmon Nozimov’s corner to secure a 2-1 victory for the club from Tursunzoda.
In the other game involving a Tajik side, Istiklol were beaten 1-0 by Nejmeh in Hisor. Ibrahim Gbadamosi scored the only goal in the 21st minute after taking advantage of a defensive mistake by the hosts.
The Tajik champions enjoyed more of the initiative after falling behind and put the Lebanese side under pressure, but Nejmeh held on to their narrow lead.
In the other Group B fixture, Syria’s Homs Al-Fidaa defeated Kuwait’s Al-Arabi 1-0, with Francisco Politino scoring the winner in the first half. After the opening round, Nejmeh and Homs Al-Fidaa have three points each, while Istiklol and Al-Arabi remain without a point.
In Group C, Kuwait’s Al-Qadsia opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh’s Fortis. Regar-TadAZ and Al-Qadsia therefore both have three points after the first round.
Regar-TadAZ will face group hosts Al-Qadsia in their second match on October 20.
Istiklol will next play Al-Arabi before completing the group stage against Homs Al-Fidaa.
The AFC Challenge League group stage in the West region is being played at centralised venues. Group winners and the best-ranked runners-up advance to the knockout stage.