Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Alisher Ulmasov scored twice in the final 30 seconds as Tajikistan overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Chinese Taipei 6-4 as the two Group B outsiders opened their AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 campaigns with an entertaining encounter at the Al Wasl Indoor Stadium on Friday.
Chinese Taipei took a third minute lead when Lo Chih-an threaded a pass between two Tajik defenders allowing skipper Liu Chi-chao to dispatch the ball past Miali Sharipov with authority.
Shih Shin-an did well to preserve his side's lead with the Chinese Taipei keeper saving well from Tajik skipper Sherzod Jumaev on more than one occasions and the Central Asians were made to pay from the profligacy six minutes later when a quick ball from inside the Chinese Taipei half released Chen Po-hao, who easily rounded the advancing Sharipov to double the East Asians' lead.
Chinese Taipei were in complete control of their opening Group B fixture as Han Chang made it 3-0 with three minutes of the first period remaining with a well-taken angled drive.
Tajikistan reduced the deficit just a minute into the second period when Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev's intelligent cutback allowed Akhtam Nazarov to get the Tajiks on the scoreboard but Chinese Taipei restored their three-goal cushion just seconds later when keeper Shih launched the ball the entire length of the court for Han to volley through the legs of Sharipov for his second and Chinese Taipei's fourth.
Tajikistan pulled one back in the 25th minute when Jumaev skilfully curled the ball past Shih, who was beaten again seven minutes later following a powerful drive from Orzu Dodkhudoev.
And Shih would be picking the ball out of the net for fourth time in the match when Nazarov's shot was deflected past the helpless keeper by Yang Chao-hsun as the Tajiks levelled the match at 4-4.
And with just 30 seconds remaining Chinese Taipei were caught by a quick counter-attack allowing Alisher Ulmasov to turn the tide of the match in Tajikistan's favour.
But Ulmasov hadn't finished there and with Shih joining the attack as the East Asians chased the equaliser he break clear of the pack and swept the ball into an unguarded net from just inside the Chinese Taipei half.
When asked if Tajikistan's remarkable come-from-behind victory was lucky head coach Damir Kamaletdinov responded with an emphatic niet saying that a change in strategy for the second period brought about the change in his side's fortunes.
"No I don't think we were lucky as we fought hard and deserved this win," he said.
"It's the team that scores that wins not the team that controls the ball and in the first period we controlled the ball but Chinese Taipei took their chances.
"In the second period we changed our tactics and I told the players don't panic, there is still time. We have experience in being three or four goals down before and have fought back for a positive result."