Nepali top-tier Three Star Club qualified for the AFC Cup Playoffs as Group ‘B’ winners after Erchim FC of Mongolia defeated Nagaworld FC 1-0 in the AFC Cup Qualifying Playoffs at the Mongolian Football Federation grounds in Ulaan Bataar on Thursday.

Three Star, who had defeated Erchim 2-0 in their tournament opener, had to wait for their fate after Nagaworld held them to a 1-1 stalemate in the second game of the three-team pool. Erchim were already out from the Qualifying playoffs following the draw in second match but Nagaworld would have seen them through had they returned with a victory by three-goal margin on Thursday.

Nagaworld’s loss meant Three Star topped the pool with four points ahead of Erchim (three). Nagaworld had just one point. Three Star will now head into the Playoffs with the opponents yet to be decided. The date and venue have also not been ascertained yet.

“The AFC Cup is coming up with a new format. AFC (Asian Football Confederation) will now conduct a new format workshop in August in Malaysia. The workshop will determine the nature of the playoff and the number of teams that it might feature,” said Sanjeeb Shilpakar, Three Star General Secretary.

Group ‘A’ winners Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan and Group ‘C’ champions Tatung FC of Chinese Taipei are so far the other two teams confirmed for the Playoffs. “We are very happy because we have made it through. The boys did all the hard work,” said Three Star coach Meghraj KC.

Skipper Bikram Lama credited everyone for the success. “The entire team set, coaching staff, management and well wishers of Three Star have made it possible,” said Lama.