World Cup Asian qualifiers:
Pole position at stake as Iran visits Uzbekistan in crunch Central Asian derby
Uzbekistan will host Iran in Tashkent’s Bunyodkor Stadium today, with both sides keen to claim the maximum points and take a significant stride towards the World Cup finals in two years’ time.
The two teams are tied on six points, and a goal difference of +2, with Uzbekistan leading the table in Group A of the qualifiers after scoring more goals in the wins against North Korea (1-0) and Kyrgyzstan (3-2).
There was little to sperate the two sides when Iran and Uzbekistan shared the spoils in both meetings of the previous qualifying group phase.
Uzbekistan pulled off a sensational fightback in the second half to come from two goals down on home soil in November last year, before no goals were scored in the dead-rubber reverse fixture at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in June.
Sardar Azmoun was on target when Iran last beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in the CAFA Nations Cup final last year – Team Melli’s 10th victory in 14 games against the fellow-Central Asians since they first met in 1998, with Uzbekistan’s sole win (1-0) coming in a World Cup qualifier in Tehran 12 years ago.
While Iran remains an undisputed member of the old guard in Asian football, Uzbekistan is building on an impressive run in youth-level competitions over the past decade to establish itself as a rising force in the continent.
Persepolis winger Oston Urunov and Esteghlal midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov are Uzbekistan’s familiar faces for Iranian fans, though the former is a doubt for today’s encounter after suffering a groin injury during warmup ahead of Saturday’s top-flight game against Chadormalou.
However, there are more to expect from Uzbekistan’s formidable frontline, as AS Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov will be looking to add to his 41 international goals, while Abbosbek Fayzullaev, with two strikes in nine appearances for CSKA Moscow this season, could make a contribution off the bench.
‘More clinical’
Despite not being at its free-flowing best, Iran secured 1-0 wins against Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates last time out in the group, but head coach Amir Qalenoei says his players will have to be more clinical in today’s encounter if they are to leave Tashkent with a decisive victory.
“I want my players to make the most of their chances. Iran should have scored more goals in the last two games but we were wasteful and a repeat of that will cost us against Uzbekistan,” the Iranian said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“It is going to be a tight and physical game and, hence, there won’t be too many clear-cut chances for either of the two sides. We’ll have to be spot-on with our tactical plan and more clinical in our finishing.”
Asked about his team’s performance in last year’s 2-2 draw, Qalenoei said: “Our players were a bit tired in that game and lost motivation as the game wore on. Uzbekistan still deserve credit for the way they fought back in the second half and could have even won that match.”
Qalenoei will be without center-back Hossein Kan’anizadegan, who is set to be sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring problem, with Shoja Khalilzadeh and young Sepahan prodigy Mohammad-Amin Hazbavi likely to form the backline partnership.
Elsewhere in the Asian qualifiers today, the UAE – third in Group A with three points – will play at home to North Korea, with Qatar and the Kyrgyz Republic squaring off in Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.
Jordan and South Korea, the top two in Group B with four points, will go head-to-head in Amman, while Oman will chase first points in the group when hosting Kuwait.
Iraq, also on four points, welcomes Palestine to the Basra International Stadium.
in Group C, A highly-anticipated fixture will see Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia and Japan battle it out in Jeddah.
Australia and China will meet in Adelaide, with Bahrain facing Indonesia at home.