Uzbekistan shocks host Qatar in convincing style
3/12/2006 12:16
Qatar soccer team suffered a heavy blow as Uzbekistan downed the host 1-0
in a convincing way in their second group match of the Asian Games at Al Sadd
Stadium in Doha yesterday.
Moscow Torpedo striker Alexander Geynrikh scored
the winner on 66 minutes when he got a deflecting pass from midfielder Igor
Taran inside the box and made a perfect slide-in.
The victory means
Uzbekistan has got an advantageous position to advance to the next round with
six points in hand.
Qatar were overshadowed by Uzbekistan's performance in
the first half. Qatar had few chances to shoot on goal in front of a
well-organized team and almost conceded two goals.
The guest team's captain
Server Djeparov fired a close range shot over the crossbar after picking a
fantastic through ball two minutes into the game. And keeper Mohamed Saqr made a
crucial save to deny substitute winger Igor Taran's small angle drive inside the
box.
Uzbekistan dominated the second half as well. Geynrikh went close with a
dipping free kick from 25 meters just a bit wide of the post. Timur Kapadze
headed the ball against the post on 73 minutes.
Although the hosts brought on
18-year-old newly crowned "AFC ( Asian Football Confederation) Player of the
Year" in the 62rd minute and launched fierce attacks in the concluding stage,
Uzbekistan finally withhold the pressure and got two effective counter attacks,
only to find Marat Bikmaev's close range shot stopped by Mohamed Saqr and
Timur's drive rake the bar.
Xinhua
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