Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan will be without China-based defender Egor Krimets for Tuesday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off second leg against Jordan as Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side seek to build on last week’s 1-1 draw.
Captain Server Djeparov netted 10 minutes before half-time in Amman on Friday to cancel out Mus’ab Al Lahham’s 30th minute opener to put Uzbekistan in a commanding position to remain on course for a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance by advancing to November’s intercontinental play-off with South American opposition.
Kasimov, though, will be without Beijing Guoan defender Krimets while goalkeeper Ignatiy
Nesterov remains sidelined following shoulder surgery meaning Murotjon Zukhurov is set to again deputise.
“I was pleased with Zukhurov in the first game and I think he will start in the match if he does not have any problems,” said Kasimov.
“Krimets, though, is out for three weeks and will not be able to play for a month.”
Uzbekistan were good value for their draw at King Abdullah International Stadium last week despite falling behind and are on course to go one step further than their appearance in the play-offs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup when the Central Asians lost on away goals to Bahrain.
“Jordan are a good team but our players are ready and we want to make our fans happy,” said former Uzbekistan international Kasimov, who played in both games against Bahrain alongside current influential midfielder Djeparov.
“We will not play for a draw, we only want to win.”
Uzbekistan earned their place in the intercontinental play-off with a third place finish in Group A despite beating Qatar 5-1 at home in June.
And while the empathic win was not enough to leapfrog second place Korea Republic to earn automatic qualification for the 2014 finals, it does mean Uzbekistan have lost just once in eight games in Tashkent during the current campaign having only suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat by Iran at the start of the final round.
“We will look to be very active in the match and try to create dangerous moments to score. We are also prepared for Jordan to use counterattacks like they did in Amman,” added Kasimov (pictured).
“We have been working hard in training on using corner kicks and free kicks as we were unable to use these situations better in the first game.”
Photo: WSG