Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: A wounded Uzbekistan still retain hope of securing a fourth consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup ahead of Sunday’s must-win meeting with Saudi Arabia, according to forward Igor Sergeev.
Sergeev scored the only goal last weekend in Sydney as Uzbekistan opened their Group B campaign with a 1-0 win over DPR Korea, but the Pakhtakor forward was unable to repeat the feat on Wednesday as Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat by quarter-final bound China.
And on Sunday at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, 2011 semi-finalists Uzbekistan must claim all three points against a Saudi Arabia side who only need to draw due to a superior goal difference to join China in the last eight.
“We lost our game against China and we were very disappointed, but we are happy that we have one more chance and our team believes in itself and we will try to beat Saudi Arabi as we don’t have any choice. We are a like a hurt wolf and we will go until the end, and I think we can beat Saudi Arabia,” said Sergeev, who was the top scorer at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship.
“I expect an open and interesting game against Saudi Arabia because, even though they will be satisfied with a draw, I don’t think they will play for a draw. I think both teams will play for a win and I expect a very interesting game.”
Having only made his national team debut in September 2013 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off against Jordan, Sergeev was not part of the Uzbekistan squad who eventually finished fourth at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
But after Uzbekistan finally progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in Qatar following back-to-back quarter-final exits in 2004 and 2007, progress from the group stage is now seen as a minimum requirement for Kasimov’s side.
“Before we came here, everyone in Uzbekistan believed in us and supported our team, and that is why after that we have tried to do our best,” added 21-year-old Sergeev.
“In Qatar we finished fourth and we came here to go further, now it is difficult, but we will try to do it.”
Having prevailed over DPR Korea thanks to Sergeev’s 62nd minute strike at Stadium Australia, Uzbekistan had taken the lead against China in Brisbane as Odil Ahmedov netted midway through the first half.
But with China scoring twice in the second half, Uzbekistan missed out on securing their return to the last eight with a game to spare.
“(DPR) Korea could not score and that helped us to win, but in the second game we played well in the first half, but in the second half we were not as good and maybe it was because of physical conditions as it was tough to play against China,” said Sergeev.
“It was tough for them as well, but we couldn’t show our best football and that is why we lost.”
Photo: WSG