Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Gaziantep: Uzbekistan marched into the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 after defeating Greece 3-1 in the round of 16 match which saw both sides ending with a man less at the Kamil Ocak Stadium on Tuesday.
Midfielder Abbosbek Makhstaliev opened the scoring for Akhmadjan Musaev’s side in the 26th minute. Captain Vladimir Kozak made good ground on the left and delivered a fine diagonal cross which Makhstaliev met first time, smashing a right-foot volley in off the inside of the post from 14 yards.
The Uzbeks conceded a penalty in the 33rd minute and Greece captain Konstantinos Stafylidis successfully converted from the spot to make it 1-1.
However, Uzbekistan themselves won a penalty in the 62nd minute and AFC U-19 Championship 2012 topscorer Igor Sergeev coolly converted the chance to take a 2-1 lead over the 10-man Greece side after Dimitrios Kourmpelis was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The Uzbeks were awarded yet another penalty and Sardor Rakhmanov, who will be missing the quarter-final match on Sunday after receiving the second yellow card of the tournament, converted from the spot to stamp the Uzbek authority in the match.
Apart from Rakhmanov, coach Musaev will miss the services of Boburbek Yuldashov in the quarter-final after the defender was given his marching orders in the 86th minute following a second bookable offence in the match. Uzbekistan will take on the winners between France and hosts Turkey in the quarter-final on Sunday.
The rest of Asian representatives Iraq and Korea Republic are in action on Wednesday with the Iraqis meeting Paraguay and AFC U-19 Champions 2012 Korea Republic locking horns with another South American rival Colombia.
Photo: AFP