Sports / News
Saudis hold off Uzbekistan to reach semi-finals
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-23 13:26
JAKARTA, July 22 - Saudi Arabia survived a furious Uzbekistan onslaught
to win their Asian Cup quarter-final 2-1 on Sunday to set up a semi-final
clash with Japan.
Yasser Al Qahtani gave the Saudis the best possible start, putting them
ahead in only the third minute. After soaking up heavy pressure, the Gulf
side went 2-0 up in the 75th minute when Ahmed Al Mousa strode onto a
return pass in the box and confidently clipped the ball home.
Uzbekistan, who hit the woodwork five times and had a goal disallowed,
grabbed a lifeline when substitute Pavel Solomin pulled one back with
eight minutes left, but they were unable to covert pressure into more
goals and paid the price.
Uzbek coach Rauf Inileyev bemoaned his team's lack of fortune in front of
goal but refused to be drawn on Maksim Shatskikh's disallowed strike.
"I never blame referees after the game as everyone can make mistakes, so
today I think we were just unlucky," Inileyev told a news conference.
He said the four teams left in the competition -- South Korea, Saudi
Arabia, Japan and Iraq -- were all very strong and it was too close who
were favourites to win the title.
Saudi coach Helio Cesar dos Anjos fiercely rejected suggestions his team
had been fortunate and said they had created as many chances as the
opposition.
"It was an open game, like a final, and we weren't lucky," he riled.
"The goals we scored we practiced in training, that's why we deserved to
win."
EXCITING FINALE
The game got off to an electric start with a goal after only three
minutes.
Abdulrahman Al Qahtani surged down the wing and delivered a vicious low
cross which Uzbek keeper Ignatiy Nesterov got to, but could not hold and
the rebound fell kindly to Saudi striker Yasser Al Qahtani, who scored
from 12 yards.
Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov lashed a shot against the base of the post
before dangerous Dynamo Kiev striker Shatskikh followed up a free-kick to
hammer the ball home from close range.
However, the linesman flagged him for offside -- a decision TV replays
suggested was wrong.
Uzbekistan picked up where they left off after the break and Aziz
Ibragimov went close with a header that hit the underside of the bar.
The Saudis threatened on the counter and 15 minutes from the end scored
an excellent second to make it 2-0.
Substitute Al Mousa strode onto a clever return pass from Al Qahtani in
the box and clipped the ball home.
Uzbekistan made it 2-1 with eight minutes left to set up an exciting
finale. Hayrulla Karimov nodded the ball off the bar from a free-kick and
Solomin steered it over the line.
Amazingly, the Uzbeks almost equalised with their next attack but
Alexander Geynrikh's fierce drive again cannoned back off a post.
Chances were created at both ends until the final whistle, but it was the
Saudis who were celebrating at the end.
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