But while the three points gained by Khujand put them level with Istiklol on the Group D table, Altyn Asyr’s later victory over Dordoi FC means Khujand are now unable to top the group due to their inferior head-to-head records against both Istiklol and Altyn Asyr.
Khujand tasted AFC Cup defeat against their domestic rivals on Matchday One and had since suffered two further losses to the Tajik champions in national league play, but they made a dream start to the must-win tie at 20 Years of Independence Stadium.
It took just four minutes to for Vitali Levchenko’s side to take the lead, with captain Jahongir Ergashev arriving to poke the ball in from close range after Istiklol had failed to clear Firdavs Chakalov’s long throw.
Istiklol looked to settle and quickly began to dominate possession, although Khujand retained the ability to threaten on the counter-attack in a quality first half full of entertainment.
The visitors levelled the tie on the half-hour mark through defender Jalil Kismanov, who thumped the ball home from close range to put an abrupt to the goalmouth scramble which followed Iskandar Dzhalilov’s cross from the right-hand side.
The goal temporarily silenced the crowd, but they erupted back into action 10 minutes later when Kyrgyz Republic international Tursunali Rustamov scored a brilliant goal, dribbling around a defender before curling a left-footed effort into the top corner of Nikola Stosic’s net to regain the lead for Khujand.
It would prove to be one of Rustamov’s final contributions before he was replaced by Vasiev at half-time, while Istiklol boss Khakim Fuzaylov made two changes of his own in the search for three crucial points.
Vasiev immediately threatened to add to Khujand’s 2-1 lead, but Istlklol levelled the tie in the 64th minute through a moment of quality from rising star Panshanbe Ehsoni, who brought back memories of his memorable goal at the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship with a scorching 30-yard strike which crept past Daviti Kupatadze.
Ehsoni’s goal was impressive, but Vasiev unleashed an even better strike to put the hosts back in front eight minutes later, making full use of the space provided by the retreating Istiklol defence to pick out the bottom corner from a similar distance.
Istiklol’s defeat is their second in succession in the AFC Cup, but they still stand a chance of winning the group if they can beat Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr next Wednesday, while Khujand will travel to Bishkek where they will meet Dordoi FC.
