Sport | Football
Uzbekistan shut out the UAE
Uzbekistan defeated UAE 2-1 in the first match of Group A in the 15th Asian Games football tournament, which kicked off before the formal opening at the Jasim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
- By Sayed Ali, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:35 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit: Al Bayan
- Naser Masood of the UAE (No 8) tries to evade the challenge of an Uzbekistan player while Masood's teammate Ahmad Khamis (back to camera) looks on.
Dubai: Uzbekistan defeated UAE 2-1 in the first match of Group A in the 15th Asian Games football tournament, which kicked off before the formal opening at the Jasim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
Going by Tuesday's performance, the UAE players will have to work hard in the coming two matches against Jordan and Qatar if they are to qualify for the second round and have a go at a medal.
Uzbekistan dominated the first half through superior fitness and strong bodies, which helped them to win all the fifty-fifty balls. The UAE players often tried to stop them by rough tackles, but in vain as five of them received yellow cards.
The UAE goalkeeper Yousuf Abdullah was a hero. Despite the defeat, he prevented the Uzbeks from adding more goals with some brilliant saves. He really proved to be the last line of defence after the UAE defenders failed to stop the quick and powerful moves of the Uzbekistan strikers.
Early strikes
The central Asian team meant business from the word go. They targeted the UAE goal four times within the first 10 minutes. UAE had the first look at the rival goal when Adil Saqr shot over the bar after 12 minutes.
Although the Uzbekistan players dominated the first session, they had to wait till its last minute to open the score by Alexander Geynrich. His powerful shot bounced off the UAE keeper Abdullah's hands, and while he was trying to grab it again while on the ground, the ball crossed the goalline and the assistant referee signalled for the goal.
Within 10 minutes of resumption, Geynrich scored the second one following a cross from the left flank. It hit UAE defender Badr Yaqout's head and went to Geynrich, who slotted the ball past the right of the UAE keeper.
The UAE's performance improved considerably in the second half after the UAE coach Alex Duponte made three substitutes. Adil Saqr found the reducer in the 69th minute after he diverted Yasir Mattar's free kick to the right of the Uzbekistan custodian.
UAE pressed to level the score towards the dying minutes. They wasted some sitters and the Uzbekistan defence also held out them till the final whistle.
Multimedia
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