Uzbekistan trample India

Uzbekistan, needing only a draw to make the final after a goalless encounter against Iraq yesterday, responded well to the challenge of playing on successive days.

They dictated terms against smaller, slower opponents to lead 2-0 at half-time before breaking India8217;s resistance with the third goal from a swift counter attack.

Soliev Anvarjon scored the first two goals, his attacking twin Isakov Umid added the next two before key mid-fielder Mataliev Ravshanjon completed the rout. Substitute Satish Kumar scored the consolation goal in the dying seconds. Compounding to the hosts8217; misery were two defensiveblunders that led to the second and fourth goals.

Goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey committed the first, failing to collect the stinging 35-yard free-kick before Anvarjon grabbed the gift. The second broke the spirit of India8217;s challenge after Satish Kumar mis-passed the ball.

The singular error did not obliterate another sterling display by Chaubey, who, along with mid-fielder S Venkatesh, is a good bet for the Olympic qualifiers, according to chief coach Slovanian Ivo Sajh-Scheich.

Ivo castigated his defence but still expressed hope for the future despite the dismal result. 8220;I am convinced that we will have good players moving into the senior team,8221; he said.

Ivo looked forward to better performances in the forthcoming events in Dhaka and Singapore after being assured of having a major say in the team selection.

The Uzbeks struck early in the game following a corner. The impressive Gofurov Rashidjon found Anvarjon who made no mistake amid a hesitant defence in the eighth minute.

India held their ownand threatened to score despite star striker, local lad Alvito D8217;Cunha8217;s failure to cope with dour physical play by the Uzbek defence.

Venkatesh just failed to head in crossed from right 8212; the first by Dipendu Biswas, the second by Prahlad Rawat. Another chance fell to Biswas from Sashti Duley8217;s cross from the right that had Uzbekistan8217;s hero of the match against Iraq, Abdurazekov Abdullekhodja, stretched to the hilt.

The Uzbeks, though, largely controlled play and Sergienko Niklay struck a post before Chaubey shone with a brilliant dive to his right to deny Mataliev.

India8217;s best effort to score came in the 23rd minute but Lolendro Singh rocked the bar with a shot from the 30-yard out before the Uzbeks seized control yet again.

Chances fell to Anvarjon and Umid and the constant pressure and with India expectedly tiring, Anvarjon shot into an open net after Chaubey8217;s error in the 37th minute.

The Indian keeper quickly made amends with two courageous blocks to full-blooded attempts by Rashidjon andUmid just minutes before halt-time.The home side enjoyed the greater possession in the early minutes of the second half until Uzbekistan struck with their opponents heavily committed to attack.

Umid outpaced the defence after receiving a long through from Mataliev in the 65th minute and it was 4-0 within two minutes after the dreadful blunder by Satish Kumar.

The sparse crowd suffered even further disappointment when D8217;Cunha, now playing for local outfit Salgaocar, was inevitably substituted by Arshad Ansari towards the closing quarter of the match.

Mataliev, who is expected to play a key role along with Anvedon, Umid and deep defender Murtaznev Spaptak in Sunday8217;s final, deservedly entered the score sheet in the 78th minute.

A square pass by Dyakov Andrey was greeted with a shot to the rook to make it 5-0. Satish Kumar reduced the margin in the 89th minute, getting the better of Abdullakdodja from 30 yards out after the sides resigned themselves to the scoreline. Uzbekistan came very close to make ita tennis score but Umid, accepting Mataliev8217;s ball, shot across the face of the goal.