{"id":4024,"date":"2024-01-19T11:11:08","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T00:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=4024"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T04:54:13","slug":"uzbekistans-return-to-form-timely-ahead-of-australia-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/uzbekistans-return-to-form-timely-ahead-of-australia-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"Uzbekistan’s return to form timely ahead of Australia clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uzbekistan\u2019s comfortable 3-0 victory over India on Thursday may not been too surprising for most in Al Rayyan\u2019s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, but it came as an emphatic welcome to the tournament for the White Wolves <\/em>who had previously opened their account with a stutter.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thursday\u2019s victory came off the back of a meagre 0-0 draw against Syria in their opening game of the tournament. With expectations rising ahead of the tournament, an uncharacteristically flawed performance in Doha wasn\u2019t the start most had imagined \u2013 and the squad knew it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A week on, with the usually level-headed Sre\u010dko Katenec left prickly swatting away criticism in the pre-match press conference, a return to the type of form we all know this side can offer against India was the tonic the whole camp needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t simply a reset and go-again approach from their Slovenian coach, either. Somewhat surprisingly, bowing to media pressure, Katenec reverted to a more attack focused 4-2-3-1 formation, crucially moving away from a back three setup that had been the bedrock of their success since he was appointed three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While criticism of the approach seemed overblown, especially given the team\u2019s record (18 wins in 29 under Katanec), there were credible reasons to take this moment to rethink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One being injury, the dreaded word in the Uzbek camp this last month, having succumbed to the long running \u2018will he, won\u2019t he?\u2019 drama that greeted talisman Eldor Shomurodov\u2019s desperate attempts to return to fitness on the eve of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He was eventually accompanied on the injury list by integral defender Husniddin Alikulov a few days before kick off, and right wing back Khozhiakbar Alijonov a few days after Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With three first teamers down in a couple of weeks, change quickly become a necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few in Asia could cope with such an injury pile up at the start of an international tournament, so trepidation was always going to be experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add to the mix, an out of sorts Jaloliddin Masharipov. Stepping into the shoes of Shomurodov as the squad\u2019s leader, proposed talisman and chief goal scorer, a mantle that has, until now, proved elusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Shomurodov, described as \u201cour Messi\u201d by his coach this last week, often relished in the one-man show, Masharipov\u2019s best performances, either at club level or in national team colours, have often been part of a wider team display, where he has benefited from those around him, more than any individual inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Into the breach then comes Abbosbek Fayzullaev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once feared to be too slight, or too peripheral to really make the most of his undoubted ability, his development has gone from strength-to-strength over the last 12 months, blossoming into an all action, effective and central creator, playmaker and goalscorer at every Uzbek youth level, and now in European club football with CSKA Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While Katenec probably foresaw the 20-year-old\u2019s presence in Qatar as more of an impact player initially, his brief cameo against Syria underlined the necessity of not only promoting him with an immediate start against India, but by building the team around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manoeuvring from his tried and trusted 3-4-3, to a 4-2-3-1, Katenec replaced a central defender with a number ten \u2013 injecting the squad with the creative lynchpin it craved, with freedom to roam and devastate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within a minute, Fayzullaev had made his presence felt. Within four, he\u2019d opened Uzbekistan\u2019s account in Qatar with a perfectly judged looping header \u2013 not bad for a player that only stands at just over 5\u20197\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple change in emphasis, albeit aided by an Indian team that positively took the game to their opponents, leaving gaps in behind that Syria, or more to the point, their coach Hector Cuper hadn\u2019t allowed, instantly rubbed off on those around their creator-in-chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masharipov\u2019s outlook clarified; providing the types of interchange we\u2019ve been used to in years of old. Oston Uronov, pushed back out wide, started threatening once more with pace, the recalled Igor Sergeev played effectively off the shoulder of the last man, while even the wing backs, so integral to Katenec\u2019s previous approach, continued to be given licence to roam, combining directly for Uzbekistan\u2019s third goal of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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