After a cautious start by both sides, Tajikistan gained the upper hand in the 19th minute when Abdulloh Sharopov chested the ball past Hamid Amiri following a Furqon Rahimzoda cutback, which took a deflection off Afghanistan defender Mohammad Nowrozi.

Skipper Rustam Kamolov extended their lead three minutes later when his shot from the left completely eluded a diving Hamiri and came to rest in the back of the net.

Afghanistan pulled one back on the half-hour mark after Zarif Amini’s cut-back from the left found an unmarked Habibullah Hotak, who had the easiest of tasks of turning the ball in from the centre of the area.

A determined Tajikistan, however, restored their two-goal advantage in the 37th minute, Mehrubon Odilzoda coming in from behind the defence and slipping the ball past a hesitant Amiri.

Afghanistan’s efforts to get back into the game from the start of the second half came to naught, with Ezatullah Rahimi’s hopeful lob from long range in the 73rd minute easily collected by custodian Abubakr Rahmonqulov.

Tajikistan could have increased their lead in the 80th minute but Mustafo Hasanbekov saw his effort roll inches past the right post with keeper Amiri well beaten.

Asadbek Makhtomov, however, made it four for Tajikistan in the 88th minute when the striker outjumped Fahim Karimi and headed home to seal a well-deserved win.

Bahrain 1-2 Jordan
Zuhier Handomeh made Jordan’s intentions clear when he skimmed the bar from long range in the opening minute, followed by Naser Dajani’s strike from the left following a similar trajectory moments later.

Mahmoud Altmaizi’s attempt in the 14th minute, punched away by keeper Abdulla Abdo, marked the beginning of a slowdown for Jordan as their opponents regrouped and made their move.

Bahrain’s Ahmed Al Humood fluffed a golden chance to break the stalemate in the 31st minute when he took advantage of a defensive fumble but then shot straight at keeper Salem Ahmad Al Shloul in a one-on-one situation.

Defender Bader Al Asam came close to heading the ball into his own net in the 42nd minute after connecting with Jordan’s Adeeb Ramadan’s curling free-kick, but Abdo’s quick reflexes prevented a disastrous opening goal.

Jordan were slower to start after the break, but eventually found their footing and took the lead in the 58th minute when, off a corner, Dajani rose highest in a crowded goalmouth to head home past a diving Abdo.

An unperturbed Bahrain, however, leveled the score in the 76th minute when Al Asam connected to a floating Ali Naser free-kick and steered his header past Al Shloul.

Ahmad Albeetar could have given Jordan the full three points towards the end but ballooned the ball over with Abdo at his mercy before Abu Zaid put the matter beyond doubt four minutes into injury time when he came in unseen on the left and fired home.