Fortis Beat Tajik Club Regar 3-1 in a Comeback Win, Yet Bow Out of the Challenge League

Bangladesh club Fortis FC produced a fine comeback win in their final group match of the AFC Challenge League, beating Tajikistan's strong club FC Regar-TadAZ 3-1 after falling behind. But despite leaving the field with all three points, the Bangladeshi club could not secure a place in the next round of the tournament.

Fortis suffered an early setback. In the 12th minute, Regar's Sherzod Makhamadiev controlled the ball down the right from a fine flick by Ndongo Foe, beat Fortis's Munir Alam, and found the target. Fortis's Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera appealed for offside and obstruction, but the referee upheld the goal.

The course of the match changed in the 17th minute, however. Regar goalkeeper Severin Takam fouled Fortis's Noriki Akada outside the box as Akada chased a weak backpass from defender Martin Ako Assomo and tried to enter the area. Takam was shown a straight red card and left the field.

Regar's substitute goalkeeper Shakhobuddin Makhmudzoda then came on and skilfully saved Pa Omar's curling free-kick. Playing with an extra man, Fortis sharpened their attack. But when Akada missed an easy chance in the 35th minute, they went into the break trailing 1-0.

Fortis pressed harder for a comeback in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Fortis coach Masud Parvez Kaisar brought on Japanese-origin footballer Suki. The pace of the game increased as soon as he came on.

That pace paid off within four minutes. When the opposing goalkeeper dived to stop Suki, the rebound fell to Pa Omar, who laid the ball off to Rafael Tudu. Tudu finished with a superb backheel to bring his side level.

Four minutes later, in the 71st minute, Fortis went ahead. On a measured cross from Mohammad Ibrahim, Ananta Tamang headed the ball to Shiyan Kawasaki, who sent it into the net with a perfect volley to make the scoreline 2-1. The Bangladeshi club had completely turned the match around after trailing.

The win was sealed in the 88th minute. From Pa Omar's pass, Suki curled a fine side-footed shot into the net to confirm a 3-1 victory for Fortis. Coming on as a substitute, Suki not only scored once but was also involved in the build-up to the equaliser.

Despite this excellent comeback, the Bangladeshi club still had to bow out of the tournament. After three group matches, both Fortis and Tajik club Regar finished with three points, and their goal difference was also equal at minus two.

Kuwaiti club Al Qadsia had already secured top spot in the group and a place in the next round with six points. Meanwhile, as the runners-up in the other groups, Groups A and B, had more than three points, Fortis's path to the knockout stage as the best runner-up was also closed.

So Masud Parvez Kaisar's charges had to end their AFC Challenge League mission with only a consolation win. Still, responding with three goals after falling behind against opponents reduced to ten men will remain a positive memory for the club from this final match.