Uzbeks set sights on beating China today to advance

Doha: Uzbekistan, the only team with a 100 per cent all-win record, tackle a youthful China today in their final Group A game with the latter also in with a chance of advancing to the last eight.

Vadim Abramov's side started with a superb 2-0 win over hosts Qatar and followed it up with a 2-1 win over Kuwait while China suffered a 2-0 loss to Qatar after starting off with a 2-0 win over Kuwait.

Though all four teams have a chance of making it to the last eight, Abramov proclaimed his team had it in them to win the Cup. "I said before the start that we are here to win. I have seen all other teams and South Korea, Japan, Australia, Iran and Iraq are all strong. But we are here to win and we have plans for these teams," he said.

Skill and control

With Alexander Geynrikh, Server Djeparov, Timur Kapadze and skipper Odil Akhmedov controlling the midfield, Maksim Shatskikh has had a free run up front as the Uzbeks have shown speed, skill and control complemented with some superb shooting abilities. Commenting on today's match, Ahmedov said, "Of course in this match it only need to get a point, but we won't be satisfied if we get a draw. We want to beat China and we will do our best to win it."

China, whose pace had Kuwait in a fix though it was the extra man advantage that saw Gao Hongbo's young squad score twice. But against the Qataris, their inexperience was exposed though the Chinese coach feels luck went against them. "Qatar had three shots and they got two goals. We had three shots but we have no goals. Must have some luck also," said Gao.

China will miss their experienced midfielder Qu Bo after he picked up his second yellow card but Gao said he had a better player, Hao Junmin, to take his place. Both the group games are being played simultaneously to make it a level-playing field.