Uzbekistan upset China to reach Asian Cup quarters

China will not appear in the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1980 after they were handed a crushing 3-0 defeat by Uzbekistan, who went through.

كتب : Hatem Maher

الأربعاء، 18 يوليه 2007 - 19:11
China suffer early exit
China will not appear in the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1980 after they were handed a crushing 3-0 defeat by Uzbekistan, who went through.

Maksim Shatskikh fired Uzbekistan in front in the 72nd minute before Timur Kapadze made it difficult for China four minutes from time.

Alexander Geynrikh secured the precious victory deep into stoppage time to lift Uzbekistan to the knockout phase.

Uzbekistan finished second in Group C with six points, two ahead of third-placed China who have been eliminated.

Iran also secured passage to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 over Malaysia, thanks to two strikes from Javad Nekounam and Andranik Teymourian.

They top the group with seven points while Malaysia finished the Asian Campaign pointless.

In the quarter-finals, Uzbekistan will face Saudi Arabia while Iran take on South Korea.