Uzbekistan stun favourites to make the quarter-finals
SHAH ALAM: Uzbekistan knocked Group C favourites China out of the Asian Cup with a stunning 3-0 upset victory at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday.
This is China’s first Asian Cup group-stage exit in 27 years.
Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh, Pakhtakor midfielder Timur Kapadze and veteran Alexander Geynrikh scored late in the second half to break the hearts of the 2004 runners-up.
Iran finished top of the group on seven points after their 2-0 win over co-hosts Malaysia, with Uzbekistan second on six points. China finished with four points and Malaysia lost all three matches.
China needed only a draw to reach the quarter-finals after a 5-1 victory over Malaysia and a 2-2 draw with Iran. Uzbekistan, who thrashed Malaysia 5-0 after losing 2-1 to Iran, needed to win to reach the last eight.
Uzbekistan will travel to Jakarta to face Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Iran stay in Malaysia to take on South Korea.
China’s early exit is likely to mean the sack for embattled coach Zhu Guanghu, who has failed to reproduce the form that took China to the 2004 final.
China, giving a first start to Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo, edged a tepid first half played in damp conditions.
Bundesliga midfielder Shao Jiayi shot wide on three minutes and then warmed goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov’s hands with a 35m free-kick on 20 minutes.
But with China’s attack failing to fire, Guanghu withdrew left winger Mao Jianqing for the dangerous Wang Dong on 40 minutes.
Uzbekistan refused to throw players forward in a cautious start but Server Djeparov almost had a shot deflected in on 15 minutes and curled another effort at Yang Jun, deputising for the injured Li Leilei, just before half-time.
Dynamo Kiev striker Shatskikh had a shot blocked on 34 minutes and another saved as Uzbekistan were mainly restricted to half-chances and shots from distance.
But Uzbekistan brought on Geynrikh at half-time followed by Victor Karpenko and the double switch made the difference as Shatskikh shaved the upright with a sizzling shot on 64 minutes.
Djeparov saw a shot saved before Karpenko hoisted a 40m free-kick on to Shatskikh’s head, forcing a diving save from Yang Jun before the forward finished with aplomb in the 72nd minute.
In the 86th minute Uzbekistan doubled the score when Kapadze capitalised on an error by Yang Jun.
China’s woes were compounded by a worrying injury to striker Han Peng, who was stretchered off in the dying moments.
As Han Peng left the field, Geynrikh collected the rebound from his own free-kick and lashed the ball past Yang Jun to complete China’s humiliation. – Agencies
China out after losing 0-3 to Uzbekistan
China failed to reach the knock-out stage after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup on Wednesday.
China needed a tie to qualify from Group C while Uzbekistan had to win to enter the knock-out stage. This was the first time in 27 years China had failed to qualify from Asian Cup group stage.
The two sides played a balanced game in the first half though Uzbekistan created more opportunities.
Uzbekistan broke the deadlock in the 72th minute when foward Maksim Shatskikh blasted the ball into the net from close range.
Midfielder Timur Kapadze doubled the lead in the 87th minute when he shot the ball home.
Aleksandr Geynrikh sealed the victory for Uzbekistan when he scored in the injury time through a free kick.
Uzbekistan, who trailed Iran to stand the second in Group C, will play against South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Source: Xinhua
China exits AFC Asian Cup(sohu.com)
Updated: 2007-07-19 08:30
China failed to reach the knock-out stage after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup here on Wednesday.
All three goals came via free kicks as Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh, midfielder Timur Kapadze and veteran Alexander Geynrikh struck late in the second half to break the hearts of the 2004 runners-up.
Iran finished top of the group on seven points after their 2-0 win over co-hosts Malaysia earlier on Wednesday, with Uzbekistan second on six points. China finished with four points and Malaysia lost all three matches.
China needed only a draw to qualify after a 5-1 victory over Malaysia and a 2-2 draw with Iran. Uzbekistan, who thrashed Malaysia 5-0 after losing 2-1 to Iran, needed to win to reach the last eight.
The match was marred by a serious neck injury to Chinese forward Han Peng who was taken to hospital after a collision with Uzbek goalkeeper Hayrulla Karimov in the final minutes.
Uzbekistan travel to Jakarta to face Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Iran stay in Malaysia to take on South Korea.
Uzbek coach Rauf Inileyev told reporters: "We spent a lot of time on free kicks because we felt that China were weak in that part of their game. In fact, our whole game-plan worked very well."
Chinese coach Zhu Guanghu, blaming defeat on absence of injured goalkeeper Li Leilei and defender Li Weifeng, is determined to carry on.
"I will not leave football," he said. "The coaching staff and players will learn from this defeat and move forward."
After a dour first half, Uzbekistan stunned the Chinese fans by taking the lead in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Victor Karpenko floated a free kick into the box and Shatskikh rose to head goalwards. Chinese stand-in keeper Yang Jun failed to hold on and Shatskikh volleyed in the rebound for his third goal of the competition.
Uzbekistan made it 2-0 on 86 minutes. Karpenko aimed his 25-yard effort straight at Yang, who was helpless as the ball bounced off his legs and Kapadze ran in to score.
Geynrikh sealed victory with a goal deep into injury time. His free kick from 25 yards came off the wall but Geynrikh collected the rebound to shoot through a crowd of players and into the net.
China failed to reach the knock-out stage after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup on Wednesday.
China needed a tie to qualify from Group C while Uzbekistan had to win to enter the knock-out stage. This was the first time in 27 years China had failed to qualify from Asian Cup group stage.
The two sides played a balanced game in the first half though Uzbekistan created more opportunities.
Uzbekistan broke the deadlock in the 72th minute when foward Maksim Shatskikh blasted the ball into the net from close range.
Midfielder Timur Kapadze doubled the lead in the 87th minute when he shot the ball home.
Aleksandr Geynrikh sealed the victory for Uzbekistan when he scored in the injury time through a free kick.
Uzbekistan, who trailed Iran to stand the second in Group C, will play against South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Source: Xinhua
China exits AFC Asian Cup(sohu.com)
Updated: 2007-07-19 08:30
China failed to reach the knock-out stage after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup here on Wednesday.
All three goals came via free kicks as Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh, midfielder Timur Kapadze and veteran Alexander Geynrikh struck late in the second half to break the hearts of the 2004 runners-up.
Iran finished top of the group on seven points after their 2-0 win over co-hosts Malaysia earlier on Wednesday, with Uzbekistan second on six points. China finished with four points and Malaysia lost all three matches.
China needed only a draw to qualify after a 5-1 victory over Malaysia and a 2-2 draw with Iran. Uzbekistan, who thrashed Malaysia 5-0 after losing 2-1 to Iran, needed to win to reach the last eight.
The match was marred by a serious neck injury to Chinese forward Han Peng who was taken to hospital after a collision with Uzbek goalkeeper Hayrulla Karimov in the final minutes.
Uzbekistan travel to Jakarta to face Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Iran stay in Malaysia to take on South Korea.
Uzbek coach Rauf Inileyev told reporters: "We spent a lot of time on free kicks because we felt that China were weak in that part of their game. In fact, our whole game-plan worked very well."
Chinese coach Zhu Guanghu, blaming defeat on absence of injured goalkeeper Li Leilei and defender Li Weifeng, is determined to carry on.
"I will not leave football," he said. "The coaching staff and players will learn from this defeat and move forward."
After a dour first half, Uzbekistan stunned the Chinese fans by taking the lead in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Victor Karpenko floated a free kick into the box and Shatskikh rose to head goalwards. Chinese stand-in keeper Yang Jun failed to hold on and Shatskikh volleyed in the rebound for his third goal of the competition.
Uzbekistan made it 2-0 on 86 minutes. Karpenko aimed his 25-yard effort straight at Yang, who was helpless as the ball bounced off his legs and Kapadze ran in to score.
Geynrikh sealed victory with a goal deep into injury time. His free kick from 25 yards came off the wall but Geynrikh collected the rebound to shoot through a crowd of players and into the net.
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