Uzbekistan stun Saudis to reach quarter-finals
Two-goal hero Rashido, Shodiev star in 3-1 Asian Cup win.
Vokhid Shodiev (left) scored Uzbekistan's second in their 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Uzbekistan booked a place in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after beating Saudi Arabia 3-1 in a nail-biter yesterday, with a bullet header from Vokhid Shodiev helping them over the line.
The substitute’s dramatic winner, which came after 70 minutes, averted a controversial denouement after Saudi Arabia had been awarded a soft penalty which cancelled out an early strike from two-goal hero Sardor Rashidov.
Uzbekistan will next face South Korea in the last eight on Thursday.
Meanwhhile, Sun Ke scored twice to steal the show again as China defeated North Korea 2-1 in Canberra yesterday to register their best ever start to an Asian Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2015.
Uzbekistan booked a place in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after beating Saudi Arabia 3-1 in a nail-biter yesterday, with a bullet header from Vokhid Shodiev helping them over the line.
The substitute’s dramatic winner, which came after 70 minutes, averted a controversial denouement after Saudi Arabia had been awarded a soft penalty which cancelled out an early strike from two-goal hero Sardor Rashidov.
Uzbekistan will next face South Korea in the last eight on Thursday.
Meanwhhile, Sun Ke scored twice to steal the show again as China defeated North Korea 2-1 in Canberra yesterday to register their best ever start to an Asian Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2015.