Uzbekistan Wins Japan 1:0

National Team of Uzbekistan has played against the team of Japan and finished the third qualifying round of Asia as a leader of the group C 1:0.

A special attention under the leadership of President Islam Karimov is paid to the development of football in Uzbekistan. Evidence of this is the victory of the Uzbekistan national team in the third Asian qualifying stage, which opened the way to the fourth, the final qualifying round, which gives the right to participate in the World Cup 2014 to be held in Brazil.

In the final match of the third qualifying round, the Uzbek masters played against the main opponent – Japan, current champion of Asia. Although the two teams have won tickets ahead of schedule at the decisive, fourth round, the current match had to determine the winner of the group.

Despite the absence of the main players of the team like Server Jeparov, Odil Ahmedov, Maksim Shatskix, Alexander Heinrich, Vadim Abramov’s wards gave battle to the strong and experienced opponent. Uzbek team which has displayed a high technology, professional excellence and fortitude, won the important meeting with a score of 1:0. Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made the initial save on Bakhodir Nasimov’s header, but Shadrin pounced on the rebound and slotted it home in the 53th minute.

Today’s result meant that Uzbekistan secured top position in group C with 16 points, while Japan finished second with 10. In addition, the team of Uzbekistan was the only team which missed the least number of goals in the third qualifying round.

In the second match, Tajikistan’s national team and North Korea have drawn 1:1 and won the first point in the group.

In the fourth final qualifying round, 10 best teams of the continent will be divided into two groups and compete for vouchers allocated for FIFA Asia to attend the World Cup in 2014.

Source: UzA