Uzbeks Break Past Qatar Defence Ahmedov’S Strike Seals 1-0 Win for Hosts, Sinks Qatar’S Hopes
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ZZZGLVVFRPTD 6$)(7<75$,1,1* 2BUBScT-BSHFTU4BGFUZ 5SBJOJOH$FOUFS 2YHU6DIHW\&RXUVHV 4XDOLILFDWLRQLQMXVWGD\V &ODVVURRP (/HDUQLQJ 'D\VD:HHN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017 ',66 LQIR#GLVVFRPTD Cavs drop to second India No.1 team in Tests Clevaland lose to Spurs, fall off Eastern India register 2-1 series win over Australia, CRICKET TEST top spot for first time since 2015 PAGE 28 retain ICC No. 1 Test team ranking PAGE 27 NEW ZEALAND VS SOUTH AFRICA Uzbeks break past Qatar defence Ahmedov’s strike seals 1-0 win for hosts, sinks Qatar’s hopes TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ing free kick. TASHKENT Qatar, who will host the 2022 World Cup finals, are DESPITE a resolute defence bottom of the group with four put up by Qatar, hosts Uz- points, nine outside the auto- bekistan managed to seal matic qualification places with a vital 1-0 victory at the three games remaining. Bunyodkor Stadium on Just as it appeared the Tuesday and maintain their hosts could be in for a frustrat- bid for automatic qualifica- ing night, Ahmedov curled in tion for the FIFA World Cup a lovely low free-kick from 20 Russia 2018 leaving coach yards in the 65th minute to put Jorge Fossati’s boys rooted the Uzbeks in front. The mid- to the bottom of Group A. fielder forced goalkeeper Saad al 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ASIA ZONE STANDINGS: GROUP A TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS IRAN 7 5 2 0 6 0 6 17 S KOREA 7 4 1 2 9 7 2 13 UZBEKISTAN 7 4 0 3 6 4 2 12 SYRIA 7 2 2 3 2 3 -1 8 CHINA 7 1 2 4 3 7 -4 5 QATAR 7 1 1 5 3 8 -5 4 The all-important goal Sheeb to tip wide from distance came from Odil Ahmedov’s with 17 minutes remaining. second-half free-kick. In a frantic final 10 minutes A 1-0 loss to Syria last Qatar’s Luiz Junior had a goal week meant Uzbekistan ruled out for offside before Egor needed three points to stay Krimets miscued against his within striking distance of sec- own crossbar. But Uzbekistan ond-placed Korea Republic, held out to remain third in but the opening 45 minutes Group A, a point behind Korea saw the Central Asians strug- Republic, who defeated Syria gle to break past strong Qatar 1-0 earlier on Tuesday. defence. Qatar, who will host the Uzbekistan, however, 2022 World Cup finals, are put a disappointing run of bottom of the group with four results behind them thanks points, nine outside the auto- to the Shanghai SIPG mid- matic qualification places with Qatar’s Rodrigo Tabata (right) battles for the ball with Uzbekistan’s Odil Ahmedov during their Russia 2018 World Cup Group A qualifying match at the Bunyodkor Stadium in fielder Odil Ahmedov’s curl- three games remaining. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Tuesday. (AP) Quick read Mahdi Ali Saudi Arabia beat Iraq, join Japan at the top CAF chief Ahmad quits as UAE AGENCIES 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ASIA ZONE backs Morocco 2026 RIYADH World Cup bid coach after STANDINGS: GROUP B SAUDI Arabia beat Iraq 1-0 in TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS RABAT: New African football Australia loss the third round of the World JAPAN 7 5 1 1 14 5 9 16 chief Ahmad Ahmad gave his backing on Tuesday to a poten- Cup group stage qualifiers at SAUDI ARABIA 7 5 1 1 13 5 8 16 AFC.COM King Abdallah Sports City in tial bid from Morocco to host AUSTRALIA 7 3 4 0 11 6 5 13 SYDNEY Jeddah on Tuesday, maintain- the 2026 World Cup. ing their lead in Group B. UAE 7 3 0 4 7 10 -3 9 The north African country has MAHDI Ali has resigned Yahya al Shehri scored IRAQ 7 1 1 5 7 10 -3 4 bid to host the global showpiece as head coach of the Unit- Saudi Arabia’s sole goal in THAILAND 7 0 1 6 3 19 -16 1 on four previous occasions but ed Arab Emirates (UAE) the 53rd minute, while Nawaf missed out on the 1994, 1998, following his side’s 2-0 Al-Abid and Salman Al-Faraj Scoreline last two rounds has shown 2006 and 2010 editions. FIFA World Cup qualify- were both booked with a yel- that there is still room for us “We are convinced that Morocco ing loss to Australia. low card each. Group A to improve,” said Lippi, who could organise this competition Tuesday’s result at the Saudi Arabia beat Iraq 2-1 (Jeong- took over as China coach in just as was done by South Af- Sydney Football Stadium away from home when the two South Korea 1 October. rica in 2010,” said Ahmad, who left the UAE occupying sides met earlier in the group Ho 4) Syria 0 “They were two good was elected president of the fourth spot in Group B and last year. Iran 1 (Taremi 46) matches, but when facing a Confederation of African Foot- their hopes of reaching China 0 strong side like Iran our de- ball (CAF) earlier this month to Russia 2018 hanging by Iran beat China, Uzbekistan 1 fence needs to improve.” replace Issa Hayatou, at a press the slenderest of threads. Australia get crucial win Japan confirmed Thai- conference in Marrakesh. “Now is the time for me Earlier in Tehran, Iran took a (Akhmedov 65) Qatar 0 land’s elimination with a 4-0 Ahmad’s backing comes just a to leave,” Ali, who assumed significant step towards quali- Group B thumping at Saitama Stadium few months after FIFA president the role in 2012, told report- fying for next year’s World Cup Australia 2 (Irvine 6, in Group B that strengthened Gianni Infantino declared that ers after the game. finals with a 1-0 win over China Leckie 78) UAE 0 their own qualifying hopes. the country has the necessary that pushed Marcello Lippi’s Japan are three points “infrastructure and organisa- team closer to the brink of elimi- Japan 4 (Kagawa 8, ahead of third placed Austral- tional capacity” to host the nation. Okazaki 19, Kubo 57, ia, who picked up their first World Cup. Mehdi Taremi scored the Yoshida 83) Thailand 0 win in five games with a 2-0 But a year ago, FIFA had ac- only goal of the game less than Saudi Arabia’s Nawaf Alabid (left) controls the ball as Iraq’s Amjed Attwan Saudi Arabia 1 (Yehya victory over the United Arab cepted that Morocco paid bribes a minute after halftime as Iran Kadhi tries to get possession during their Asia 2018 World Cup Cup quali- al Shehri 53) Iraq 0 Emirates, whose coach Mahdi to the former head of the North remained unbeaten in the third fying match at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Tuesday. (AFP) Ali resigned after the game. and Central American Confed- round of Asia’s qualifying tour- “Very proud of the players, eration in trying to win the nament for Russia 2018. who got their own campaign China, however, failed to fifth in the group, eight points it was a challenging 10 days right to host the 1998 Carlos Queiroz’s team back on track with a 1-0 win build on last week’s morale- adrift of the Koreans, who oc- for us,” Australia coach Ange and 2010 tournaments – moved on to 17 points from over Syria that reduced the boosting win over Stielike’s cupy the second of the two au- Postecoglou told Fox Sports. something that could prejudice seven games, four clear of mounting pressure on coach side in front of a packed-out tomatic qualifying berths. any future bid. (AFP) Mahdi Ali second-placed South Korea, Uli Stielike. Azadi Stadium. They remain “The experience of the More on page 30 Ô “I resigned before the Iraq game (in November), but the UAE Football Asso- ciation insisted I continue. “It is a very bad mo- Bukharov saves Russia the blushes against Belgium ment for me. I wish I could leave the national team in AFP CSKA Moscow fullback among the elite with the Confed- Benteke then scored twice a better condition. But this MOSCOW Viktor Vasin had given Russia erations Cup just three months within the space of three min- is life. We have to accept it. an early lead. away and the World Cup – for utes following defensive slip- After five years, I did my ALEXANDER Bukharov net- The result sweetened a bit- which they qualify automatically ups to give Belgium a com- best,” he added. ted an injury-time equaliser ter pill for the Russian fans as hosts – next year. manding 3-1 lead at halftime. Under Ali’s guidance, as Russia battled back from after the country's team hit a Russia, spurred on by a ca- After the interval the visitors, the UAE won the 2013 two goals down to draw 3-3 new low on Friday with a first pacity 43,700 crowd, got off to a fifth in the FIFA rankings, took Gulf Cup of Nations and with Belgium in the first-ever ever defeat to an African team flying start after just three min- their foot off the gas, allowing reached the semi-finals match at Sochi's Fisht Arena – a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast. utes as Dmitry Kombarov redi- Lokomotiv Moscow's Miran- of the AFC Asian Cup two on Tuesday. That was coach Stanislav rected a left wing freekick by Al- chuk to reduce the arrears after a years later in Australia.