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 on Saturday.
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
saveto 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 News Agency December 3, 2006)