A brace from Sanazar Tirkisow and one from Altymyrat Annadurdyyew saw the side from Turkmenistan advance 3-2 on aggregate, with either Indonesia’s Madura United or Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia their opponents in the final.
Arkadag, chasing a two-goal deficit from the first leg, started the match on the front and took the lead in the seventh minute after Yazgylyc Gurbanow set up Sanazar, who curled his shot over Al Arabi keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafoor.
Al Arabi played in patches before getting their act together in the 22nd minute when Komail Al Aswad found space at the top of the box but his shot failed to trouble Arkadag custodian Rustem Ahallyyew.
The Turkmen side came close to doubling their lead in the 25th minute when Tirkisow picked out an unmarked Mekan Saparow, whose diving header narrowly missed the target.
A lapse in concentration saw Arkadag draw level on aggregate in the 58th minute after Abdulghafoor parried Tirkisow’s volley against the crossbar, with Annadurdyyew pouncing on the rebound for a simple finish.
Al Arabi threatened in the 73rd minute with Hamza Khaba delivering a deep cross to Salim Al Awadhi, whose tame header was easily collected by Ahallyyew.
Al Arabi came close to breaking the deadlock in the 88th minute after substitute Salman Al Awadhi surged inside the box only to see his shot deflected by Abdulghafoor.
Arkadag, however, saved their best for last when they scored their third goal in the second minute of stoppage time when Annadurdyyew turned provider after he outmuscled his marker to set-up Tirkisow to strike home the winning goal from close range.
