Uzbekistan close out qualifying campaign with a flourish

AFC
Tashkent
Uzbekistan closed their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Qatar on Tuesday.
Timur Kapadze's men, who have already booked their spot in their first FIFA World Cup Finals, finished with 21 points from 10 matches.
Qatar will have to navigate the playoffs, where two additional places at next year's global showpiece are up for grabs. The West Asians finished fourth in Group A with 13 points.
A slow first 20 minutes was highlighted by a half-hearted try by Qatar's Amro Syrag, a looping header by Uzbekistan's Husniddin Aliqulov and a run down the middle from his captain Eldor Shomurodov, who outran three defenders only to be dispossessed.
The game burst into life in the 28th minute when Azizbek Turgunboev evaded two tackles down the right and sent a screamer that rocked the underside of the bar and gave keeper Salah Zakaria no chance at all.
Zakaria and the Qatari defence were kept on their toes in the following minutes by the twin strikeforce of Shomurodov and Jaloliddin Masharipov, who combined to make three attempts at goal.
The custodian later kept his side in the match when he pulled off a fine save on the stroke of half time from Shomurodov down the right and then held on to a close-range effort by Abbosbek Fayzullaev five minutes into time added on.
The hosts started the second half with a fierce strike from Masharipov,, who sprinted down the left and curled his shot wide past the right post.
Qatar were constantly kept on the backfoot, with Zakaria making yet another crucial save when he shielded Khojiakbar Alijonov's shot from the edge of the six-yard box in the 63rd minute.
Shomurodov scored their second in the 86th minute when he latched on to a long pass from Jamshid Iskanderov, controlled the ball with his right foot and unleashed a shot with his left that flew past an outstretched Zakaria.
Uzbekistan sealed the match in the second minute of stoppage time when Igor Sergeev, who had come on a minute earlier in place of Shomurodov, scored with a close range header.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Qatar Tribune

28 minutes ago

• Qatar Tribune

Qatari runner Abderrahman Samba finishes second in 400m hurdles at Paris Diamond League

PARIS: Qatari runner Abderrahman Samba finished second in the 400m hurdles race held at the Paris Diamond League. Samba finished the race in 47.09 seconds, placing second behind American Benjamin, who finished first with a time of 46.93 seconds, while his compatriot Bassett finished third with a time of 48.14 seconds. The Qatari runner performed well, recording his best time in all competitions this year.

Qatar Tribune

3 days ago

• Qatar Tribune

Qatar Basketball Federation unveils 2025 calendar

Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has revealed its event calendar for 2025, which features a range of camps and both official and friendly participations for national teams. The initiative is part of a broader strategy designed to improve the technical preparedness of players and to broaden their international exposure in anticipation of forthcoming continental and global competitions. The Qatar men's national team 'A' will commence its training for the FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. Preparations will include an external training camp in Turkey, set to occur from June 18 to July 3, 2025. This camp will focus on intensive training overseen by the technical staff, along with friendly matches aimed at enhancing both physical and tactical fitness. The tournament draw has placed the Qatari national team in Group A, alongside Australia, Lebanon, and South Korea, a grouping that observers have characterized as formidable. This presents additional challenges for the Qatari team as they strive to advance to the knockout stage. The winners of the group will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the teams finishing in second and third place will compete in playoffs to secure the remaining positions. The team will further its preparations in Doha from July 8 to 14, 2025, during which they will engage in friendly matches against Asian teams, before traveling to South Korea for a training camp from July 16 to 21, 2025. This camp will feature a series of friendly matches from July 18 to 20, offering valuable experience in competing against advanced Asian teams. Additionally, QBF has announced the hosting of an international friendly tournament at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall from July 25 to August 1, 2025, which will include the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Japan. This tournament will provide the technical staff with an additional chance to evaluate their final preparedness prior to competing in the Asian Cup. Qatar's men's national team 'B' is also gearing up to take part in the esteemed William Jones Cup, organized by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) from July 12 to 20, 2025. The team will commence its participation with an internal training camp in Doha until July 10, which will encompass physical and technical assessments to finalize the roster. The William Jones Cup is recognized as one of the oldest unofficial international basketball tournaments, with its inaugural edition launched in 1977. Named in honor of the late FIBA founder, Renato William Jones, the tournament includes national teams and university clubs from across the globe, serving as an excellent platform for interaction and performance enhancement. The B team will also compete in the Arab Youth Championship, scheduled to take place in Nabeul, Tunisia, from July 23 to August 3, 2025, aimed at elevating the level of competition and acquiring further continental experience. At the youth level, the Qatari U-16 team is preparing to participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council U-16 Championship, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from July 7 to 13, 2025, which will serve as a qualifier for the AFC U-16 Asian Cup Finals, set to occur in Mongolia next September. On the occasion, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of Qatar Basketball Federation, and Director of National Teams, stated: 'We are heading into an exceptional year of work and preparation, which requires great cooperation from everyone: administrators, players, and the technical staff, to achieve our desired goals. We have developed a comprehensive plan for the national teams of all categories, ensuring the highest levels of readiness through external training camps and participation in specialized tournaments. The men's team's participation in the Asian Cup in Jeddah represents a crucial milestone, and we are confident in our players' abilities to perform to an honorable standard.' Al Kuwari added: 'Our participation in the historic William Jones Tournament and friendly tournaments also confirms our commitment to creating an optimal environment for interaction and development. We also pay special attention to the age groups, and we view the Gulf Junior Championship as an important gateway to emerging on the Asian stage. We are working to create a new generation of players who will represent the future of the game in Qatar.' Al Kuwari concluded his remarks by emphasizing the institutional partnerships that support the success of this plan, praising the cooperation of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the clubs, and all supporters of national basketball.

Qatar Tribune

4 days ago

• Qatar Tribune

Qatar's Mahmoud qualifies for World Aquatics 2025

Qatar swimmer Mohamed Mahmoud booked his berth at the World Aquatics Championships 2025, to be held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3. Competing at the Elite French Championship in Montpellier, Mahmoud delivered a stellar performance in the 50m breaststroke, clocking an impressive 28.06 seconds to make the grade. By doing so, he has become the second Qatar swimmer to qualify for the global championships, following Ali Sayed, who surpassed the qualifying time in the 100m butterfly event during his participation at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials, held in Canada last week. President of Qatar Swimming Federation Mubarak bin Ali Al Nuaimi congratulated the swimmers on their qualification. In a message on 'X' platform, he said, 'Your dedication, hard work, and perseverance have paid off. We, at the Board of Directors of the Qatar Swimming Association, are extremely proud of you and your first-ever qualification in the history of Qatari swimming, and we are excited to see you shine in the upcoming championship. Keep challenging your limits and inspiring us all!'