All pics by Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: AFC Asian Cup debutants Tajikistan yesterday stunned three-time semi-finalists United Arab Emirates in a thrilling 5-3 penalty shootout following a 1-1 score at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The last 16 victory achieved in front of 33,584 spectators, also made the Central Asian team only the second nation since Japan in 1992 to win their maiden knockout stage match.
Vahdat Hanonov’s goal in the 30th minute had almost secured Tajikistan an early victory, but Khalifa Al Hammadi gave UAE hopes with a late equalizer, scoring in the fifth minute added time.
The status remained the same in extra time, forcing a spot kick fest that turned out to be a display of Tajikistan’s precise kicking capabilities and fine glove work of their custodian Rustam Yatimov.
Akhtam Nazarov, Vahdat Hanonov, Ehson Panjshanbe, Rustam Soirov and Alisher Shukurov were all on target for Tajikistan during the shootout, while Abdulla Idrees, Fabio Lima and Ali Saleh did so for UAE, ranked more than 40 places above the Central Asian side.
Tajikistan's players toss coach Petar Segrt in the air as they celebrate their memorable victory against UAE.
Yatimov played the hero’s role in Tajikistan’s success, denying Caio Canedo’s penalty when the shootout was tied at 1-1.
With the score reading 4-3 in favour of Tajikistan, Shukurov, a 21-year-old, who had just one cap before the tournament, rose to the occasion by taking the last kick and beat UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa with a shot to the bottom left corner as the Tajikistan camp burst into tears of joy.
Tajikistan coach Petar Segrt looked the happiest of them all.
“I have no limits for the players because every game they surprise me again,” Segrt said.
Segrt hailed his goalkeeper as the best.
“Yatimov is the best player for me because he saved his penalty but it’s not the first time,” Segrt said.
Tajikistan's goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov celebrates with teammates.
“My next dream is to go to the next round again. I think in Tajikistan tonight, nobody will sleep,” he said.
Tajikistan will meet the winners of today’s last 16 clash between Iraq and Jordan in the quarter-finals.
The match witnessed both teams displaying attacking intent.
UAE had early opportunities, including a free-kick by Fabio Lima and an attempt by striker Canedo, both of which were foiled by Yatimov.
But Tajikistan took the lead when defender Zoir Dzhuraboev delivered a precise cross, which was headed into the bottom left corner by Hanonov.
UAE responded soon with an attempt from Zayed Sultan, but Yatimov was too good once again.
Despite UAE’s continued efforts in the first half, they failed to breach Tajikistan’s defense.
The second half saw Tajikistan having chances to extend their lead through Ehson Panjshabe and Alisher Dzhalilov, who tested Eisa.
Tajikistan almost doubled the lead in the 60th minute when Parvizdzhon Umarbayev’s pass found Dzhalilov, but the Eisa foiled the attempt before UAE equalized in the dying moments of regular time, with Al Hammadi headed home Ali Saleh’s free-kick.
Tajikistan advanced to yesterday’s Round of 16 clash after drawing with China and beating Lebanon in the first round.
Speaking to beIN Sport after the match, the Croatian tactician Segrt called his team “the black horses of the tournament.”
“Nobody knows how far we can go,” he said.
“In the end, my friends, it was also luck.”
