Win or bust for Uzbekistan in duel with Saudis

With qualification on the line, both Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia are preparing for their final group match like it is the AFC Asian Cup final.

Uzbekistan coach Mirjalol Qosimov knows only three points will do against Saudi Arabia (Getty)

Uzbekistan coach Mirjalol Qosimov knows only three points will do against Saudi Arabia (Getty)

A place in the quarter-finals rests solely on the outcome of Sunday night's match.

Victory for either side will seal its progression, while Saudi Arabia has the fall-back position of going through with a draw.

The all-or-nothing encounter guarantees a tough and tense game, with Uzbek coach Mirjalol Qosimov vowing to leave nothing in the locker room.

"We have no choice but to win and we play well and do our best to beat Saudi Arabia," he said through a translator.

"The Saudis are traditionally a very good team, very strong and we respect them very much. We believe in ourselves ... it will be like a final and we are ready to fight."

Whoever triumphs on Sunday night are certain to carry momentum into the Melbourne quarter-final on Thursday night.

Both sides have lost to China and defeated Korea DPR on their way to the Group B showdown.

Saudi Arabia's players celebrated wildly after defeating the Koreans 4-1, a result that gives them an edge on goal difference.

Coach Cosmin Olariou said he hoped they would avoid a hangover on the pitch.
"It's good they are happy," he said. "But I hope they don't pass the limit.

"We have to remain concentrated and to do what we have to do."

The Romanian coach dismissed reports his players had been offered big financial incentives to qualify.

"We are not playing for any bonus," he said. "In front of all of the people of Saudi, (winning) is the biggest bonus we can get."

Olariou said we would again change his tactics in an attempt to qualify past the Uzbeks.

"First game we play in one way, second game in a second way and third game in a third way," he said.

"I have in my mind two ways to play, inshallah we are going to choose the good one."




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Published 17 January 2015 10:59pm

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