Doha: A spot-on header in the 85th minute by Egor Kremits maintained Uzbekistan’s perfect start to their campaign to qualify for Russia 2018 yesterday evening as the defender scored the only goal of the game to disappoint Qatar in their Asian Qualifier.
Kremits, who missed the 1-0 win over Syria on Thursday due to suspension, made an impressive return to the starting line-up as he headed Alexander Geynrikh’s free kick from the right past Oumar Barry to move Samvel Babayan’s side on to six points from their opening two games.
The result leaves the Uzbeks on top of Group A, two points clear of Korea Republic and Iran, while Qatar have yet to pick up a point having lost to the Iranians thanks to two injury time goals on Matchday 1.
The Qataris made four changes from the side that was defeated in Tehran on Thursday, with goalkeeper Amine Lacomte replaced by Oumar Barry while Mohamed Musa, Ahmed Mohamed El Sayed and Akram Afif also started in place of Luiz Junior, Ali Thaimin and Pedro Correia.
Uzbekistan, wearing black armbands in memory of the country’s late president Islam Karimov, made just one change, with Azizbek Khaydarov making way for the returning Kremits.
It was the home side that made the more lively start, with Sebastian Soria almost opening the scoring in the fifth minute, only to find the side netting after Afif’s low cross from the left.
Uzbekistan’s Odil Akhmedov let fly from long range 13 minutes into the game.
But his shot sailed well over the bar while at the other end the Qataris threatened, at first when Rodrigo Tabata’s shot was easily gathered by goalkeeper Barry in the 20th minute and, a minute later, when Musa headed over the bar following Soria’s cross from the left.
Geynrikh’s introduction for the disappointing Sardor Rashidov in the 59th minute swung the game in Uzbekistan’s favour, but not before Qatar fashioned out their best chance of the game.
A well flighted ball into the area found Boualem Khoukhi with time and space and he fired off an acrobatic effort that he was unfortunate to see come back off the woodwork.
With time running out it looked likely the points would be shared, but Geynrikh’s free kick from the right swung towards the far corner of the six yard box and Kremits rose highest before heading the ball into the opposite corner of the goal, giving Barry little chance.
The Peninsula
