Central Asia

Tajik Football Continues Despite Worldwide Shutdown

Football matches all over the world have been postponed or canceled due to the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, but fans in Tajikistan were afforded the chance to see their nations’ club sides take to the pitch this weekend.

The domestic season got underway with the nations’ Supercup, which saw reigning Tajik league and cup champions Istikhlol host runners-up Khujand at the Pamir Stadium.

Even though Tajikistan have had no officially recorded cases of the COVID-19, the match was still played behind closed doors, and audience members were not allowed into the stadium.

The visitors struck first with a goal after two minutes, but the hosts and outright favorites hit back with two goals in the second half to take the victory in the season’s curtain-raiser.

The Tajik League is set to kick off today, with the remaining six teams in the division set to face off over the course of Sunday and Monday for Matchday 1.