The game got off to a cagey start even though Regar-TadAZ managed to register their first shot on target in the fifth minute with Sherzod Makhamadiev’s low effort pushed away by Ahal custodian Kakageldi Berdiyev.

Ahal’s Magtymberdi Berenov let fly from the edge of the box in the 23rd minute but it was straight at goalkeeper Manuel Panny, a move punctuating the stop-start nature of most of the first half as both sides struggled to find cohesion in their game.

As the first half went into added time, the home side nearly went ahead when Kwadwo Frimpong directed Faridun Davlatov’s inviting cross towards goal but Berdiyev pulled off a fantastic finger tip save to take the tie into the break on level terms.

The game burst into life two minutes after the hour mark when Ahal worked a short corner routine with Elman Tagayev delivering a cross that was met by Bagtyyar Gurgenov at the near post, giving Panny no chance.

Regar-TadAZ weren’t behind for long, equalising two minutes later after Beglimuhammet Bkmyradov had cleared off the line from Berdiyev’s mistake only for the ball to fall nicely for David Atsam, who lashed home from distance.

Ahal found the winner in the 82nd minute when Hakmuhammet Bashimov surged down the right flank to send a low cross into the middle that was swept home by Suleyman Mirzoyev.