The vice-champion of Turkmenistan, “Balkan”, played the first game in the 2017 AFC Cup qualifiers with many-time play-off winner of Kyrgyzstan, “Dordoy”, and ended it in a draw (1:1). From the first seconds of the match, Kyrgyz football players delivered a series of threatening attacks on the visiting team’s goal. However, the defense of “Balkan” and high proficiency of goalkeeper Alikper Kerimov helped to resist all the efforts to open the score. Our sportsmen also succeeded in creating several dramatic moments. As a result, the score was not opened in the first half. After the break, the team from Turkmenistan played more vigorously and managed to develop a game in the opponent’s half of the field. In the 67th minute, after an excellent shot of our forward Nurtagan Mammedalyev, the football reached the goal: “Balkan” were in lead – 1:0. In the 78th minute, Alisher Azizov’s headshot evened the score, which remained unchanged until the final whistle. On February 7, “Balkan” will play at home with “Dordoy”. A winner in the match will play in the next round with a winner of the game between “Hosilot” (Tajikistan) and “Shaheen Asmayee” (Afghanistan).