DOHA: Uzbekistan require just a point from their final Group A game with China today to reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals, but star player Odil Akhmedov insists they have nothing but victory in mind.
Consecutive victories over hosts Qatar (2-0) and Kuwait (2-1) have sent Uzbekistan three points clear in their pool and they could even afford to lose to China, provided Qatar do not beat Kuwait in the other match.
Victory, however, would secure top spot and with it a favourable draw in the last eight, and Akhmedov says his side will not be taking any chances.
“In tomorrow’s match, one point will be enough to reach the next stage but we wouldn’t be satisfied to play for a draw,” said the 23-year-old at yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
“We want to beat China and we’ll do our best to beat them.”
Akhmedov is developing into one of the stars of the tournament, having scored the opening goal against Qatar with a superb 30-yard strike and producing some assured performances at the heart of the Uzbek defence.
The Pakhtakor man usually operates in central midfield, but says he is happy to follow the instructions of coach Vadim Abramov.
“I like to play in midfield but if my team need me to play in defence, I will play there,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter where I’m playing. The coach knows better than me. If I play well and the supporters are pleased, then I’m very happy.”
Abramov said he was “not scared” of Gao Hongbo’s young Chinese team and claimed his only pre-match anxiety concerned which players to omit from his starting line-up.
“Unfortunately, we had some injured players but now we have another problem. We have too many good players and not all of them can play,” he said.
“The first XI players are winning so I cannot change them before the next game. I know my team and my players are very talented and I’m satisfied with them.”
Having beaten Kuwait in their opening game, China fell 2-0 to Qatar. Even victory against the Uzbeks may not be enough to take them into the last eight.
In any case they need Kuwait to do them a favour against Qatar, but Hongbo rejected accusations that his side had been over-confident prior to their loss to the hosts.
“It’s normal to have confidence before a match because you cannot lose before a match,” he said. “You must have self-confidence.
“As I mentioned in the after-match press conference, in the first half Qatar only hit the target three times and they scored two goals. We also hit the target three times, but you need luck to win games.”
Hongbo admitted his side would have their work cut out against one of the most impressive teams of the tournament to date.
“After the first two rounds, in Group A, Uzbekistan did the best,” he said.
“Uzbekistan’s team have many experienced players and the team are well-organised. They are also able to control matches very well.”
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