“This is a final chance. Either we kick South Korea or we should finish football in a country.”
Strong disproportion from Uzbekistan captain Odil Ahmedov, who cut an romantic figure during a post-match research of his country’s 1-0 improved to China PR on Thursday 31 August.
Of course, a Shanghai SIPG midfielder is exaggerating slightly: nonetheless a arriving tie opposite Korea Republic is Uzbekistan’s final diversion in Group A of a Asian qualifiers, it is by no means a White Wolves’ final possibility of reaching a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Mathematically, even a pull would still leave a doorway open, despite around a track of a play-off rounds. However, Ahmedov does not even wish to anticipate that outcome.
“We already went by that 4 years ago,” pronounced a 29-year-old executive midfielder to FIFA.com, remembering how Uzbekistan came agonisingly tighten to subordinate for Brazil 2014. “We picked adult a same series of points as a Koreans though finished in third place since of a worse idea difference, and afterwards we mislaid out to Jordan in a play-offs. This time we wish to validate for a World Cup directly, avoiding this situation.”
The 2014 qualifiers were not a usually time that a Taeguk Warriors barred a Uzbeks’ trail to a World Cup finals. In attempting to strech Germany 2006, Uzbekistan unsuccessful to repudiate Korea Republic second place and went on to remove opposite Bahrain in a play-off.
Highlights from China’s 1-0 win over Uzbekistan! #CHNvUZB #WCQ2018 #RoadToRussia https://t.co/NyP9FHj1Io
— The-AFC.com (@theafcdotcom) August 31, 2017
Korea Republic seem to have an ongoing hex over a former Soviet republic, proof their undoing not usually in World Cup qualifiers though in a AFC Asian Cup as well. In 2011, a Taeguk Warriors prevailed 3-2 in a compare for third place and, 4 years later, they knocked out a White Wolves 2-0 after additional time. In 14 rival fixtures, Korea Republic have won ten, with Uzbekistan’s usually feat over their rivals entrance in a 1-0 win in 1994. Remaining certain can't be easy when faced with such ban statistics.
“They’re a spook team, it’s a fact,” Ahmedov admitted, “but we’re personification during home and we have a avocation to a fans. We have to do this avocation – there’s no other option. we consider a improved to China will glow adult a lads. We have a clever group and we shouldn’t ever perform like that.”
The detriment to China PR was Uzbekistan’s fourth divided detriment in a quarrel during this subordinate campaign.
“It’s tough to win when we don’t measure from such mouth-watering positions. How many definite chances did we have opposite China? We can't proceed games in this way. we consider we’ll uncover a most improved customary of football in Tashkent. Only a win will fit us during home.”
Group A fixtures
Uzbekistan-Korea Republic, 5 September, Tashkent. KO during 18:00 Moscow time.
Iran-Syria, 5 September, Tehran. KO during 18:00 Moscow time.
Qatar-China PR, 5 September, Doha. KO during 18:00 Moscow time.
#WCQ | Group A (ASIA)
China PR 1-0 Uzbekistan
Korea Republic 0-0 Iran
Syria 3-1 Qatar pic.twitter.com/vM6vRaiyRP— #WCQ (@FIFAWorldCup) August 31, 2017
Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=9/news=uzbekistan-out-to-end-korean-hoodoo-2906537.html