Qatar’s slim chances of clinching an automatic qualifying spot for the 2018 World Cup in Russia dissipated yesterday after they were beaten 1-0 by Uzbekistan in their Group A match in Tashkent.
It was the fifth defeat for the Al Annabi, who now languish at the bottom of the six-team group on just four points from seven matches, and even the prospect of finishing third in the group now appear remote.
Jorge Fossati’s side were hoping for a miracle after a 1-0 defeat to Iran last week in Doha had left them with the near-impossible task of having to win their next four matches in order to challenge the top guns in the group.
But a sensational Odil Akhmedov free-kick in the 65th minute, the ball crashing low into the net after curving around the “wall”, put paid to Qatar’s hopes at the same time giving the Uzbeks a decent chance of finishing second in the group and qualifying for the tournament proper for the first-ever time.
A 1-0 loss to Syria last week meant Uzbekistan needed three points to stay within striking distance of second-placed Korea Republic, but the opening 45 minutes saw the Central Asians struggle to break down a resolute Qatar defence.
But just as it appeared the hosts could be in for a frustrating night, Akhmedov curled in a lovely low free-kick from 20 yards to put the Uzbeks in front, before the Shanghai SIPG midfielder forced goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb to tip wide from distance with 17 minutes remaining.
In a frantic final 10 minutes the visitors’ Luiz Junior had a goal ruled out for offside before Egor Krimets miscued against his own crossbar, but Uzbekistan held out to remain third in Group A, a point behind Korea Republic, who defeated Syria 1-0 earlier yesterday.
Qatar’s forwards were once again ineffective and barely managed to pressure the Uzbek defence. The trio of Sebastian Soria, Rodrigo Tabata and Luiz Junior were kept well in check, except during the final few minutes of the game when Qatar got their act together.
But that was still not enough as the equalizer evaded them and disappointment was writ large on their faces as the referee blew the final whistle.
Earlier, Iran’s Mehdi Taremi dealt China’s World Cup hopes a major blow with a 1-0 win.
Marcello Lippi’s team had raised Chinese hopes with their 1-0 win over the Koreans last week, but Taremi’s goal straight after half-time consigned them to defeat by the same scoreline.
While Iran, Asia’s top-ranked team, maintain their four-point cushion from South Korea at the top of Group A, China are second from bottom with only three games to go.
China are pumping huge resources into football in an effort to lift themselves among the sport’s elite, starting with qualifying for only the second World Cup in their history.
But they may now have to win all of their remaining games against Syria, Uzbekistan and Qatar to reach next year’s tournament in Russia.
Elsewhere, China-based Hong Jeong-Ho struck in the fourth minute as Uli Stielike’s South Korea beat Syria 1-0 to remain second in Group A.