January 30, 2024
Following the first of the last 16 knock-out round matches in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup between Australia and Indonesia, the next knock-out game to be followed by these diaries was the encounter between Uzbekistan and Thailand.
Thailand Background
This was the 8th time Thailand had qualified for the Asian Cup Finals, with their best performance being a third placed finish in 1972. At the start of the tournament they were 113th in the FIFA rankings.
Thailand qualified for the finals after finishing runners-up in their group played in Uzbekistan, losing 0-2 to today’s opponents, but winning 3-0 against the Maldives and 2-0 against Sri Lanka.
In the Asian Cup Finals, Thailand finished runners-up in Group F, starting with a 2-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan, followed by 0-0 draws with Oman and Saudi Arabia. All three opponents were much higher in the FIFA rankings. Buriram United striker Supachai Chaidad ( 34 caps ) scored both the goals against Kyrgyzstan.
22 of their 26 man squad play their club football in Thailand, with their legionnaires being forward Suphanat Mueanta ( 16 caps ) who plays in Belgium for OH Leuven whilst his brother, midfielder Supachok Sarachat ( 31 caps ) is with Hokkaido Sapporo in Japan. Right-back Nicholas Mikelson ( 9 caps ) plays for OB in Denmark and centre-back Elias Dolah ( 15 caps ) is with Bali United in Indonesia. Interestingly, none of the overseas based players started in the draw with Saudi Arabia, presumably being rested for the knock-out game as Thailand were already assured of a place in the last 16.
Of the local based players, 5 are with 2022/23 champions Buriram United, three with runners-up Bangkok United, 4 with third placed FC Port and 3 with fourth placed Muangthong United. Four players were also from 2021/22 runners up BG Pathum United. All of these sides are based in the capital Bangkok, with the exception of Buriram, which is approximately 400km east of the capital, or a 5 to 6 hour journey by road from Bangkok.
Uzbekistan Background
With a current FIFA ranking of 68, Uzbekistan were the 9th highest ranked side in the competition. As mentioned above they had qualified ahead of Thailand via a group played in Uzbekistan
Their progress to the last 16 had been via a 0-0 draw with Syria, a 3-0 victory over India, and a 1-1 draw with Australia to finish second in Group B. Uzbekistan’s coach is ex-Yugoslavia and Sampdoria Serie A winning midfielder Srecko Katanec, who is perhaps the greatest ever footballer produced by Slovenia. Uzbekistan’s nickname is the White Wolves.
These diaries have featured football in Uzbekistan on three occasions, with a review of the 2020 season, plus individual games in both the 2021 and 2022 season.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-of-2020-uzbekistan-super-league.html
These diaries noted that the outstanding player in the 2020 Uzbekistan Super League was Pakhtakor midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov ( 53 caps ), who then left to join Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia. However, the arrival of a certain ageing Portuguese pretty-boy egomaniac in Saudi Arabia saw Masharipov forced to leave and join mid-table Greek side Panserraikos.
The other outstanding player in the 2020 Uzbek Super League was striker Igor Sergeev ( 72 caps ), who then moved from Pakhtakor to Kazakhstan, initially to Aktobe then Tobol, but now ironically has been spearheading BG Patham United’s unsuccessful AFC Champions League campaign.
Midfielder Jamshid Iskanderov ( 29 caps ) was mentioned in these diaries whilst with South Korean side Seongnam but is now back home with Navbahor Namangan. However, all three of these players only came off the bench against Australia.
Midfielder Otabek Shukurov ( 58 caps ) plays for Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey, whilst Khojimat Erkinov ( 23 caps ) is with Torpedo Moscow, and winger Abbosbek Fayzullaev ( 10 caps ) now plays for CSKA Moscow. Centre-back Rustam Ashurmatov ( 31 caps ) also plays in Russia, with Ruban Kazan. 19 year-old defender Abdukodir Khusanov plays in France for Lens, having earlier played in Belarus at Energetik BGU Minsk.
However, 16 of the squad were based in Uzbekistan, with champions Pakhtakor providing 6 players, 5 played for Nasaf, 4 were at Navbahor and one was with AGMK.
When the game between AGMK and Pakhtakor was featured in these diaries in 2022, six of the Pakhtaktor team that day were in the current Uzbekistan squad, namely defenders Alijonov and Sayfiyev, midfielders Kholmatov, Khamrobekov and Turgunbaev plus forward Fayzullaev.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/09/fc-agmk-0-2-pakhtakor-tashkent-fc-att.html
Uzbekistan’s record goal-scorer Eldor Shomurodov ( 38 goals for 69 matches ) plays in Serie A for Cagliari on loan from Roma, but missed the Asian Cup through injury.
Matchday Information
The match was being played in the 44,325 capacity Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, which is home to Qatar Stars League side Al-Wakrah SC. Seven matches in the 2021 World Cup were played in the stadium, and this was the 5th out of 6 scheduled to be played in this Asian Cup.
The weather at the 14.30 local time kick-off ( 11.30 UK ) was sunny and 24 degrees. Today, the roof was mostly covered and the air-conditioning inside the stadium was on !
Bet365.com, who live streamed the match, made Uzbekistan 11/20 favourites, with Thailand at 5/1 with the draw at 3/1.
Uzbekistan made four changes to their starting line-up against Australia, with Masharipov, Turgunboev, Kushanov and Kholmatov coming into the side. Shukurov and Sergeev were not even on the bench, through illness and injury respectively.
Thailand made 8 changes from their side that started against Saudi Arabia, where they rested some players having already been assured of a place in the last 16, and the referee was Nazmi Nasaruddin from Malaysia
Uzbekistan were in all white, whilst Thailand wore all blue, and a little confusingly nearly all the Thai players had their first names on the back of their shirts rather than their last names.
Highlights of matches in the AFC Asian Cup are available on www.the-afc.com as well as the AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel.
Match Report
Uzbekistan started at a high tempo, and with just over three minutes played Fayzullaev just failed to reach Kholmatov’s chip into the area when unmarked running through the centre of the Thailand defence.
Thailand’s first excursion into the Uzbekistan half saw Rungrath Phumichantuk’s cross blocked by Eshmurodov for a corner. The Uzbek defence saw the ball into their area off for another corner, and second time around, Dolah peeled away beyond the back post to create space for himself but could only head three or so feet wide of the post from about 10 yards out.
After 12 minutes Fayzullaev went down in a heap in the area after a challenge from Dolah when trying to reach Sayfiyev’s ball from the left, but the referee wasn’t impressed and play continued.
The first proper chance occurred in the 17th minute when Urunov played a give and go with Masharipov on the 18 yard line to be put clear 8 yards from goal, but somehow he put his effort wide. Two minutes later, as several players stopped expecting a foul to be given on Khamrobekov just outside the Thai area, Urunov played on but shot narrowly high and wide, with the ball taking a slight deflection off a Thai defender for a corner.
The one-way traffic continued as with 21 minutes on the clock, Thailand frittered away possession outside their area and Masharipov’s low shot from 25 yards was pushed around the post by keeper Khammai. When the corner was partially cleared, Khamrobekov’s left footer from just inside the area went narrowly wide.
After 25 minutes, Masharipov’s astute pass released Sayfiyev on the left and the ball into the area found Uranov with his back to goal, and after twice twisting and turning inside the Thai area, Uranov could only eventually shoot straight at the Thai keeper. Shortly after, Kholmatov’s long range effort was another regulation save for the Thai keeper.
At the other end, some neat first time passes required Kushanov to make a sliding tackle to prevent Phumichantuk getting a crossing in from the right-hand by-line. Yusupov’s Superman dive to punch the corner completely missed the ball, but Uzbekistan were able to clear the danger.
Uzbekistan scored the opening goal in the 37th minute. Kholmatov’s lovely ball into the area floated over the head of Bunmathan for Turgunboev to chest control and then volley left-footed from 8 yards past Khammai. A super goal and 1-0 to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan continued to pour forward, and four minutes later Kholmatov curled a 20 yard effort just wide after being teed up by Fayzullaev. Masharipov then set up Fayzullaev but his left footed shot from the edge of the area went just wide.
At the half-time interval, Uzbekistan deserved led, having had 10 attempts on goal with 4 on target, compared to Thailand having just one off-target header. Uzbekistan’s fast passing and movement had impressed, whilst Thailand had looked neat in possession, but had posed next to no threat.
Thailand made two changes for the start of the second half, bringing on the brothers Muenta and Sarachat for Kanitsribampen and Charoenrattanapirom, no doubt much to the commentators’ relief !
The introduction of Sarachat almost had an immediate impact as his through ball found Phumichantuk in space, but after cutting back inside, his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by an Uzbek defender.
However, Uzbekistan were soon pressing again, and neat interplay between Urunov and Fayzullaev, ended with Urunov’s effort being deflected over for a corner.
There didn’t seem to be much danger as Sarachat ran from mid-way inside the Uzbek half and received a pass back from Chaided, but his hopeful 25+ yard curling attempt bounced under the diving Yusupov and into the corner of the net. To use the cliché, Yusupov would have been disappointed by his effort. 1-1 after 58 minutes.
Thailand attacked again almost immediately after the restart, but Muenta’s effort lacked power and Yusupov gratefully saved.
Parity didn’t last for long though. Masharipov’s short pass found Fayzullaev with his back to goal just outside the penalty area, but Hemviboon backed off and allowed him to take two touches, turn and then fire a low shot into the bottom corner. 2-1 to Uzbekistan with 64 minutes played.
Needing to score to stay in the competition, Thailand started to enjoy the majority of the possession, but made little headway against a solid Uzbekistan defence as the White Wolves seemed to content to sit back on hold onto what they had. Despite winning a couple of corners, Thailand were struggling to lay a glove on the Uzbeks, although Sarachat might have done better getting on the end of one corner, and Bunmathan’s left-wing cross was just too high for Chaidad.
The only yellow card of the game was shown in the 87th minute when Kushanov was adjudged to have fouled Chaidad 30 yards out, when in fact the Thai striker was coming back from an offside position so the free-kick should have been the other way ! Apart from this though, the Malaysian referee had an excellent game, and allowed the game to flow as much as possible. The free-kick from Sarachat lacked power and Yusupov made an easy save.
In the second of seven added on minutes, Dolah rose the highest to meet Bunmathan’s free-kick from close to the left-hand touchline, but his header sailed a foot over the bar, and Yusupov appeared to have it covered.
In the 5th minute of injury time, Erkinov ran most of the length of the field, but lost control of the ball inside the Thai penalty area. Khammai’s clearance was poor and went straight to Kholmatov, but after bringing the ball down the first-time effort from the Uzbek midfielder went a yard or so wide of the post.
At the final whistle, Uzbekistan had held on to achieve the victory their play over the whole game had merited. They now face hosts Qatar in the quarter final and will no doubt be wary of both the cynical play of the Qataris, and a tendency for the hosts to be on the end of some favourable decisions.
Thailand bowed out of the competition having given a good account of themselves, but ultimately lacked a cutting edge against higher ranked opposition.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcysVulcpz8
Uzbekistan : Yusupov – Kushanov, Eshmurodov, Ashurmatov - Turgunboev ( Abdurahmatov ), Khamrobekov, Kholmatov, Masharipov ( Iskanderov ), Sayfiyev – Urunov ( Erkinov ), Fayzullaev ( Boltaboev )
Thailand : Khammai – Mickelson, Dolah, Hemviboon, Bunmathan – Phumichantuk ( Promsrikaew ), Yooyen ( Chamratsamee ), Kanitsribampen ( Muenta ) , Pomphan ( Autra ), Charoenrattanapirom ( Sarachat ) - Chaided
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