Paro FC secured comeback win over Church Boys

  • 2024-08-13

Bhutan’s Paro FC came back from a goal down to seal a 2-1 win over Church Boys United of Nepal in the AFC Challenge League™ Preliminary Stage 1 tie on Tuesday.

Paro’s Kinga Wangchuk cancelled Laken Limbu’s opener before William Opoku struck the winner in the 66th minute to send the Bhutanese side through to the group stage.

It was a scrappy start to the contest with both sides jostling for possession with the visitors threatening first with Kaneshiro Motohiro almost finding a way through in the fifth minute but his low drive on the turn from inside the box was easily thwarted by Church Boys goalkeeper Deep Karki.

The Bhutanese side came close again two minutes later when Kinga Wangchuk floated his effort over the bar from just inside the area after a good team build-up before Opoku’s was denied by the bar from a similar position in the ninth minute.

Church Boys came close moments later with a chance of their own when a swift counter-attacking move saw the visitors stretched with Moses Twum pairing nicely with Arik Bista, who pulled his effort wide from inside the six-yard-box.

Paro pressed their opponents further and almost found a way through in the 17th minute, only for Karki to foil their effort when he palmed away Motohiro’s hurried attempt from inside the box while Opoku's mistimed effort let Church Boys off the hook.

Former Japan great Keisuke Honda had the perfect opportunity to put Paro ahead at the half hour mark but struck the left post from a free-kick.

The home side caught Paro off-guard in the 38th minute when Bista’s cross from the left flank was nodded down by Twum onto the path of Limbu for a simple finish from close range.

Paro, however, drew level a minute later when Honda found Wangchuk lurking inside the six-yard-box with the forward striking home an angled finish.

Both sides threatened in the opening minutes of the second half but neither was able to find the target with Twum missing with his effort from inside the box, while Motohiro skied his attempt above the bar.

Paro’s dominance finally came to fruition when they took the lead in the 66th minute after a lapse in concentration by Church Boys’ Kareem Omolaja allowed Opoku to pounce on the loose ball before slotting home past Karki to seal their place in the tournament proper.

- AFC

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