Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor roared into contention for a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after severally denting the hopes of Japan's Gamba Osaka with an impressive 3-2 win in Group E on Wednesday.
A frantic start at Jar Stadium saw Gamba's Shu Kurata cancel out Kamoliddin Murzoev's 14th minute header, which had set Bunyodkor on their way to avenging the 3-1 defeat in Japan two weeks ago.
But after Lutfulla Turaev restored Bunyodkor's advantage just before half-time, Anvarjon Soliev crucially struck with six minutes remaining to earn the home side a second win of the campaign before Shinichi Terada grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for Gamba.
With Australia's Adelaide United edging out Korea Republic's Pohang Steelers, Bunyodkor joined the K-League side three points adrift of the table-topping Reds, with Gamba a further three points off the pace.
"It was a very difficult game, but it is good that we were able to achieve a victory," said Bunyodkor coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.
"We played very well in the first half, but then we started to play more defensively in the second half to maintain our position, but I still instructed the players to go forward.
"I am grateful to the players because they have brought us three points and now our position in the group has improved."
Bunyodkor were rewarded for a strong start as Murzoev ghosted in unmarked at the front post to head home Victor Karpenko's inviting delivery for his third goal of the campaign.
But the lead lasted just four minutes as Kurata's strike from the edge of the area found a way past Bunyodkor goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov at his near post.
And Gamba were unlucky not to take the lead 10 minutes later as Takahiro Futagawa slid in at the back post only to see his strike come back off the underside of the crossbar before Hayato Sasaki clipped the outside of the post with Nesterov at full stretch.
Bunyodkor, though, regained the lead three minutes before the break as Turaev's header from Emil Kenzhissariyev's cross looped over scrambling Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya.
And with Gamba pressing forward looking for another equaliser following an open second 45 minutes, substitute Soliev raced clear of the Bunyodkor backline from just inside the visitors' half and after charging into the penalty area to collect Karpenko's lofted through ball, coolly rolled the ball past Fujigaya.
Terada's header with the last touch of the game provided some consolation for Gamba, who face an uphill battle to reach the last 16 following a third defeat of the campaign.
"It was a difficult game for us and unfortunately we lost. But I am proud of the players as they battled until the last second of the match," said Gamba coach Masanobu Matsunami.
"We played well, but we did not have any luck. It was also very difficult to break down the defence of our opponent.
"Now we are in last place in the group and it will be very difficult for us, but we will fight to the end. A loss to Bunyodkor does not mean that everything is over for us."