The Central Coast Mariners have officially made the final four of the AFC Cup, with just three games standing in our way of AFC Cup glory.
Next up on our quest for the Final is the Inter-Zonal Final, where we will come up against FC Abdysh-Ata Kant. The current Kyrgyzstan Champions have also made a historic run so far in the competition, looking to become their country’s first ever winners of the AFC Cup.
So who are our opponents, what is their history and how have they made it this far in the competition?
Who Are Abdysh-Ata Kant?
Founded in 1992 at the beginning of the Kyrgyz Premier League following the nation’s independence from the Soviet Union, Abdysh-Ata Kant are two-time league Champions.
These victories have come over the past two seasons, finishing top of the league by six points last season to secure back-to-back triumphs.
Initially founded as FC Tunguch Kant, the team was later re-named to FC Abdysh-Ata Kant in 2000.
Apart from their Premier League titles, they have also won five Kyrgyzstan Cups, one Kyrgyzstan Super Cup’s and one Ala-Too Cup.
After three games in their local competition this season, Abdysh-Ata Kant currently sit top of the table with nine points and a goal difference of plus 11.
Interestingly, the team are also named after local brewery Abdysh-Ata in Kyrgyzstan, who are a large beer producer using only natural ingredients to produce both non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic beverages.
Their journey to the Inter-Zonal Final
Abdysh-Ata Kant have played eight games in the AFC Cup this season, being undefeated across all of them.
To make knockout stages, they needed to top Group E consisting of teams from both Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. They did that emphatically, finishing with 16 points, drawing just once to Merw Mary.
Their biggest win of the group stage did come over Merw in the return leg, running away with an 8-3 victory.
Their opponents in the Inter-Zonal Semi Finals, Taichung Futuro, were no match, with the team from Kyrgyzstan running out 8-1 winners.
A 5-0 home win was followed up by a 3-1 win in the return leg, securing their place in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal Final.
So far this tournament their top scorer is Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu with 5, a Kyrgyz midfielder who has featured 64 times for their national team.
Tune into 10Play tonight at 10pm to watch the first leg on our AFC Cup Zonal Final!
