Uzbekistan fight back to book spot

Azizbek Turgenbov’s late header cancelled out Martin Boyle’s first half penalty to ensure Uzbekistan earned a 1-1 draw with Australia at Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday as the Socceroos confirmed their status as Group B winners at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar.
Boyle converted a minute into injury time after a handball by Odiljon Xamrobekov to put the Socceroos within sight of a third straight win, but substitute Turgenbov levelled in the 78th minute to seal second place in the standings for Srecko Katanec’s side.
The result means Australian will next take on one of the third placed finishers in the Round of 16 while Uzbekistan are due to meet the runners-up in Group F when the knockout rounds begin on Sunday.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold made five changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Syria while Katanec dropped Jaloliddin Masharipov and Igor Sergeyev to the bench among four switches the Slovenian made to the Uzbekistan line-up that defeated India.
Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi was one of those brought into the Australia team and the 25-year-old headed into the net in the 11th minute, but his effort was quickly ruled out with Boyle in an offside position in the build-up.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev threatened behind the Australian defence before his shot was blocked by Kye Rowles while Harry Souttar was forced to throw himself at full stretch to deny Otabek Shukurov a shooting opportunity eight minutes from the end of the first half.
Yengi enlightened a tepid first half with a slaloming run that ended with McGree miscuing his shot badly wide, only for the VAR officials to alert referee Yusuke Araki to an incident inside the box that saw the ball hit Xamrobekov’s arm as he sought to block Yengi’s run.
The pitchside review led to Araki pointing to the spot and Boyle sent Utkir Yusupov the wrong way to put the Australians in front. Masharipov was introduced for Oston Urunov at the interval and he went close to levelling within six minutes of the restart, bending his free kick narrowly wide of Maty Ryan’s left post after Fayzullaev had been upended by Souttar.
The Panserraikos winger was having a major influence on his team as the half wore on and, with the clock ticking down, he unlocked the Australian defence, sending over an inviting cross from the left that fellow substitute Turgenbov rose above Behich to nod home.
Australia coach Graham Arnold said he was “blending and gelling” a new team after they topped their group. Arnold has picked an inexperienced squad for the tournament and said his side were “getting better as we go”.
“We have four players here who have had Asian Cup experience and in the squad of 26 we only had 12 players that were here in Qatar for the World Cup,” he said. “I’m blending and gelling a new squad together. It’s about us connecting as a group.”
Arnold said his squad had “more depth” after making five changes to his starting line-up from the previous game against Syria. They were missing regular centre-forward Mitchell Duke, who has a hamstring problem.
But Arnold warned his players that they will have to improve in front of goal, having scored only four times in three matches.
“I thought that we played some good combination football, some good attacking football, but it’s the last pass,” said Arnold.
“That’s down to the individual. The individual has to be able to put them in the back of the net - I can’t do that.”
Jaloliddin Masharipov, who made a huge impact after coming on as a half-time substitute, said Uzbekistan’s games against Australia were “always very important”.
“We are very happy with this result because in the past we couldn’t score against them,” said Masharipov, whose cross set up Turgunboev’s goal. “We played for a successful result and tried to execute what the coach wanted us to do.”