Paro FC Book Third Straight Group Stage Berth with Gritty Win Over Abu Muslim Farah
THIMPHU — Paro FC punched their ticket to the AFC Challenge League 2026/27™ Group Stage on Tuesday, holding off a determined Abu Muslim Farah FC side 2-0 at the Changlimithang Stadium to reach the competition's group phase for a third consecutive year.
Goals from Yuta Mishima and Abdoulie Baldeh did the damage for the six-time Bhutan Premier League champions, ending Abu Muslim Farah's hopes of becoming the first Afghan club to reach the Group Stage of an AFC competition — a script that played out almost identically last season, when the same two sides met with the same result.
Slow Start, Sharp Finish
The visitors set the early tone, pressing high and unsettling the hosts from the opening whistle. Defender Mostafa Javadiankoutenaei was a persistent threat down the flank, but found Paro's backline well organised and difficult to break down.
Paro's best chance of the opening exchanges fell to Mishima in the 13th minute, who failed to properly connect with a delivery from Nima Wangdi and blazed his effort over the bar from close range.
He didn't have to wait long to make amends. Five minutes later, Mishima pounced on a loose clearance on the edge of the box and met it first-time with a venomous volley that flew past Abu Muslim goalkeeper Danyal Chalandar and into the top corner — a stunning strike to break the deadlock.
Abu Muslim responded well. Lamin Saidy was called into action to deny the visitors an equaliser, though it was Ali Reza Panahi who came closest in the 33rd minute, skipping past Saidy on the left but finding no one to convert the resulting cutback.
Chances Traded, Chances Missed
The second half continued in similar fashion, with both sides creating openings but failing to add to the scoreline. Richard Sagna and Evans Asante both had sniffs of a second for Paro, while Ali Reza and Omid Musawi tested the hosts' resolve at the other end. None found the breakthrough.
Abu Muslim's best chance to level the tie came in the 83rd minute, when Diego Ruiz found space in the box with Saidy caught out of position — only to drag his shot wide of the right post.
It proved a costly miss. A minute later, Baldeh collected a cross from Sagna, rounded Chalandar with composure, and slotted into an empty net to put the tie beyond Abu Muslim's reach.
Late Drama
Abu Muslim's night went from bad to worse in stoppage time, as Mahboob Hanifi and Azad Jafarzadeh were sent off in the 89th and 91st minutes respectively, both picking up second yellow cards to leave the visitors with nine men by the final whistle.
The result sends Paro FC through to the Group Stage of the AFC Challenge League 2026/27™ for the third year running, continuing the club's run as Bhutan's flagbearer on the continental stage.
