Defending champions Shaheen Asmayee beat De Maiwand Atalan in their semi-final match of the 2018 Rahmani Foundation Afghan Premier league (RFAPL) on Monday night.
Shaheen beat Atalan 1-0 to book their spot in the finals.
While no goals had been scored by the end of the first half, Shaheen had clearly been in control of the ball although their strikers failed to net any goals.
However, Atalan took advantage and attempted a few counter attacks, which were, comparatively speaking, well executed but were saved by Shaheen’sKawash Haidari.
Both teams had chances to score but nothing came of their efforts in the first half.
Again the same scenario played out through the second half and only in the 90th minute were frustrated fans rewarded with a well-placed goal by Mustafa Afshar for Shaheen.
Shocked by the sudden and last minute goal, Atalan maximized its efforts to equalize but it was too late as the final whistle blew with a 1-0 score.
For Atalan, their loss was devastating as they had high hopes of again playing in this year’s finals – as they did last year.
Shaheen will now play in the final against the winner of Tuesday night’s semi-final match between De Abasin Sape and Toofan Harirod.
Shaheen, has already won three APL titles and are the only team to have won the trophy in two consecutive years – 2016 and 2017.
Atalan, which is from the southern zone, which also represents Kandahar, paid tribute to their late police chief Gen Abdul Raziq before kick off. Raziq was gunned down in an attack last week after a high-level meeting with officials including Resolute Support commander Gen. Austin Scott Miller.