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Uzbekistan down Jordan to make semi-finals

DOHA - Uzbekistan wrote a new chapter in their footballing history on Friday by making the Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time with a tense 2-1 win against Jordan.

Both teams were gunning for a maiden last-four berth at the continent’s premier football tournament and a brace from Ulugbek Bakaev earned his team the right to face either Australia or Iraq for a place in the final.

At a half-empty Khalifa Stadium, the former CSKA Moscow striker pounced twice in the space of three minutes soon after half-time before Jordan captain Bashar Bani Yaseen pulled one back to set up an exciting finale.

Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov said he told his team to come out in the second-half and attack.

“At half-time I told them that in the first five minutes they must be strong. I told them to attack as soon as they went out and we got two goals,” he said.

“It was a tough game because I think some of my players were a bit scared to play, but obviously I’m very happy.”

Asked if they could now win the tournament, he replied: “Yes, why not. From the first time I got here I said we have come here to win. It’s the same now.”

Abramov made five changes to the side that drew with China 2-2 in their last game, including picking Bakaev.

Jordan, meanwhile, were burdened by a slew of injuries, with Odai Al Saify, Hatem Aqel and Anas Bani Yaseen all ruled out.

Jordan’s Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad said he was proud of his tired team.

“I am very proud of my team and what they have done in this match,” he said.

“We lost focus in the first five minutes of the second-half, but we got back into it and were very close to getting a draw.

“I admit fatigue and exhaustion was there and we were missing four key players, so this affected us.”

The start for both teams was nervy as each looked to control midfield, and they struggled to build any threatening attacks.

It took until the 10^th minute for Jordan to create the first clear chance when Ahmad Abdelhalim sliced a volley high and wide in an amateurish effort.

Both sets of fullbacks were defending well, limiting the chances with the Uzbeks not getting a look in until the 23^rd minute, when Alexander Geynrikh rifled a dipping shot from 25 yards that Amer Shafi did well to punch clear.

The game though started to open up and Jordan almost went ahead five minutes later when Abdelhalim’s dangerous free-kick was palmed clear by Ignatiy Nesterov, who collided with the post and needed treatment.

The Uzbeks began throwing men forward and Yaseen did well to continue after a courageous tackle in his own penalty area that appeared to knock out a tooth.

Both sides were pushing hard and Uzbekistan nearly got the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Geynrikh met a low cross from the right and forced a fine reflex save from Shafi.

The block allowed the teams to go into the break all square but Jordan came out for the second-half asleep.

Bakaev got his first goal 60 seconds after the restart when he beat the off-side trap to meet a free-kick from captain Server Djeparov and head past Shafi.

Jordan were caught napping again just minutes later when Bakaev slid in front of a defender to prod the ball home.

But credit to Jordan, they fought back and reduced the deficit with Yaseen bringing the mostly Jordanian crowd to their feet when he pounced on a rebound from close range to make it 2-1 with half-an-hour to go.

It set up a tense finale and Jordan attacked relentlessly but the Uzbek defence held firm.

Uzbekistan had made the quarter-finals twice before, in 2004 and 2007, but were denied each time.