Uzbekistan’s ‘best performance yet’ pleases Pazos

Published on: 19 February 2016

Tashkent: Coach Jose Maria Pazos hailed Uzbekistan’s best performance of the competition after the hosts advanced to the final of the AFC Futsal Championship with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Thailand on Friday after the sides played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.

In front of a packed Uzbekistan Stadium, the Central Asians took the lead early in the second half through Dilshod Rakhmatov before Jetsada Chudech levelled to send the game into extra-time. 

Apiwat Chaemcharoen put the Southeast Asians 2-1 to the good, but power-play player Artur Yunusov equalised to send the tie to penalties.

After the first three penalties were converted, Uzbek stopper Rustam Umarov saved from Jirawat Sornwichian to allow Konstantin Sviridov to power home the winner.

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“This was our best performance of the tournament because we played with less pressure,” said Pazos, whose side last appeared in the continental final on home soil in 2010.

“We have defended well throughout the tournament but we have not attacked as well as we can. Qualifying for the World Cup after the quarter-final win [over Iraq] took a lot of pressure off the players. It was a great game today that both teams could have won. Thailand are a magnificent team, but we were marvellous today too."

“Feruz [Fakhriddinov] is our specialist penalty taker so I have spoken to him many times about this. But I didn’t know he was going to take the first one. He asked for the ball and was very brave.”

Uzbekistan defeated Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon to top Group A with maximum points before seeing off the Iraqis 3-0 in the last eight.

“We played with style and defended well, we were not afraid and this is how we need to play going forward because if we do we can beat anyone,” added Pazos.

“Before this game we suffered with nerves but I told them that we now needed to enjoy this match, which is what we did. I hope we can enjoy the final too because in front of our fans it will be special.”

Thailand secured their place at the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia with a 6-1 quarter-final win over Australia on Wednesday as the Southeast Asians continued the impressive form that helped them see off Tajikistan, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam to top Group C before their last eight win over the Futsalroos.

“We were not afraid to play today and it was a very close game, but I want to congratulate Uzbekistan,” said Thailand coach Victor Hermans.

“Both teams didn’t want to lose. It’s a shame when something like that happens in a power play but overall it was even.

“This tournament has seen other countries in Asia come up, which I am happy about, and it shows what the AFC is doing is perfect.”

Photo: AFC

Source: the-afc.com

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