
Domestic Leagues
Lalitpur City wrapped up the Nepal Super League by defending their title while there was news - good and bad - for leaders across the Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan leagues.
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the domestic action across Central and South Asia this past week.
India: Big guns to battle it out in Kalinga Super Cup semis
The Kalinga Super Cup semi-finals will see Mohun Bagan Super Giant face off against FC Goa while Mumbai City take on Jamshedpur FC, with both matches to be played on Wednesday.
Indian Super League (ISL) and ISL League Shield winners Mohun Bagan beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 in the quarter-finals while Goa defeated Punjab FC by a similar margin.
In the other quarter-finals, Mumbai City defeated Inter Kashi 1-0 while Jamshedpur beat NorthEast United 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless result in regulation.
In the Round of 16, NorthEast defeated Mohammedan 6-0, with star striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie nabbing a hat-trick. Other matches saw Goa defeat Gokulam Kerala FC 3-0 while Punjab overcame Odisha FC by the same margin.
Mumbai City breezed past Chennaiyin 4-0, Jamshedpur walked away 2-0 winners over Hyderabad and Inter Kashi beat Bengaluru 5-3 on penalties after they drew 1-1 in regulation.
Kerala Blasters had earlier overcome defending champions East Bengal 2-0 in the first Round of 16 match while Mohun Bagan received a bye after Churchill Brothers withdrew.
Bangladesh: Mohammedan stay top
League leaders Mohammedan went down to 10 men in the 42nd minute but managed to hold their own to finish 0-0 with second-placed Abahani Limited Dhaka in the Bangladesh Football Premier League.
The result saw Mohammedan, on 31 points, maintain their four-point advantage over Abahani Limited. Reigning champions Bashundhara Kings are in third on 21 points after a 0-0 tie with Rahmatgonj, who are one place below and two points behind.
Other matches saw Bangladesh Police defeat Dhaka Wanderers 1-0 and Brothers Union send bottom-placed Chittagong Abahani to their fourth straight defeat with a 2-0 win. Fortis and Fakirepool played out a 1-1 stalemate.
Nepal: Lalitpur defend NSL title
Lalitpur City FC made history when they defended their Nepal Super League (NSL) title with a 2-1 win over Pokhara Thunders in the final. Their goals came from Imoh Ezekiel in the 42nd minute and Papa Ibou Kebe in the 75th after Sudil Rai pulled one back in the 64th minute.
The NSL playoff stage, which involved its top four teams, saw Lalitpur City defeat Dhangadhi 2-1 in the first semi-final. Pokhara then beat Chitwan FC 3-0 in the Elimination Round to set up their meeting with Dhangadhi.
Pokhara made the final after a dramatic 1-0 win over Dhangadhi, with Stephen Pinong netting the winner five minutes into time added on.
Bhutan: Premier League enters second round
Thimphu City, Transport United and Paro are all on equal standing in the Bhutan Premier League with three points apiece after the second round of matches.
All three clubs beat their opponents with 3-0 scorelines - Thimphu City v Tsirang, Paro v Tensung and Transport v Samtse in their curtain-raiser last week.
Other matches saw RTC overcome Southern City 2-1 and BFF Academy and Ugyen Academy play out a 2-2 result.
IR Iran: Sepahan lose grip on Hazfi Cup
Sepahan slumped to a 4-2 defeat on penalties to Malavan in the Hazfi Cup after their match ended scoreless in regulation. To compound their woes, the defending champions also saw defender Vahdat Khanonov sent off in the 118th minute.
Other quarter-final results saw Esteghlal FC beat Paykan 1-0 and Sanat Naft defeat Shahrdari Noshahr by a similar scoreline. Gol Gohar, meanwhile, defeated Nassaji Mazandaran 3-1.
Malavan will play Gol Gohar in the semi-finals on May 22 while Esteghlal meet Sanat Naft the following day.
In the Iran Pro League, Mehdi Hashemnejad scored 23 minutes into time added on as Tractor FC overcame Foolad 2-1 to remain top with 61 points from 27 matches, five ahead of Sepahan.
Foolad, in fourth place with 48 points, equalised 20 minutes into time added on after Domagoj Drozdek’s strike in the 46th minute. The only other league match between Esteghlal FC and bottom team Havadar earlier in the week ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Kyrgyz Republic: Abdysh-Ata on losing end
Defending champions FC Abdysh-Ata fell 3-1 to Alay Osh in the Kyrgyz Republic Premier League to register their third defeat in seven matches.
The win moved Alay Osh to second in the standings and one point behind Muras United, who beat Kyrgyzaltyn 3-1 to remain undefeated on 19 points.
Third-placed Dordoi Bishkek drew 0-0 with FC Ozgon to also keep their unbeaten record intact. FC Bars Issyk-Kul, who lost their opening match but are now on a six-game unbeaten run, defeated Ilbirs Bishkek FC 3-0.
In other matches, Oshmu-Aldier beat bottom club Asiagoal Bishkek 3-1 while Alga Bishkek defeated Talant FC 2-1. The match between Bishkek City and Neftchi Kochkor-Ata ended in a 1-1 draw.
Uzbekistan: Nasaf make their move
FC Nasaf leapt to the top of the Uzbekistan Super League after whipping Qizilqum Zarafshon 4-0. The defending champions are unbeaten in seven matches and are on 17 points, one clear of FC AGMK, who have a game in hand.
FC Surkhon carved out a narrow 1-0 win over Navbahor Namangan, who then defeated FX Buxoro 3-0 in their following match.
Other matches saw Khorezm Urgench fall 1-0 to Kokand 1912, Sogdiana beat Andijan 1-0 and FC Mash'al and FC Surkhon finish with a 0-0 draw. Bottom club Shurtan Guzar, who have yet to register a win after seven matches, fell 1-0 to Pakhtakor.
The two other unbeaten teams - AGMK and Bunyodkor, meet later on Monday.
Tajikistan: Top three extend unbeaten streaks
Vakhsh Bokhtar, defending champions FC Istiklol and Ravshan continued their undefeated runs in the Tajik League and currently occupy the top three spots in respective order.
Vakhsh defeated Kulob Istaravshan 3-2, Istiklol and Eskhata Khujand drew 1-1 and Ravshan and FC Hulbuk ended their match scoreless.
Table-toppers Vakhsh are on 17 points after seven games, ahead of Istiklol on goal difference, while Ravshan are five points behind the leading duo.
Other matches saw FK Khujand and Barkchi Hisor draw 1-1 while Hosilot Farxor defeated Pandzhsher Dzhaloliddin 2-1.
Turkmenistan: Arkadag show their stuff
Defending champions FC Arkadag asserted their superiority of the Yokary Liga with a 6-1 thumping of Kopetdag Ashgabat and then beat Kopetdag Ashgabat 3-1 in their second match.
Second-placed Arkadag, who are on a maximum 15 points from five games, are three behind leaders FC Ahal, who eked out a 1-0 win over Nebitchi Balkanabat in their seventh match.
Sagadam beat FK Merw 1-0 to remain in third while Altyn Asyr fell two spots to fourth after a 3-1 loss to FK Ashgabat.