Last-ditch penalty sinks Uzbeks
Asian Football Confederation
December 1A late goal proved the undoing of Uzbekistan yet again at the FIFA World Youth Championship as an injury-time penalty sent the central Asian side to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of defending champions Argentina in a Group B match in Sharjah on Monday.
The unfortunate Uzbeks had taken the early lead with a stunning free-kick and held out gamely against the powerhouse South Americans for much of the match despite being reduced to 10 men before succumbing to a second consecutive heartbreaking loss in the closing stages.
Uzbekistan were looking to bounce back after conceding a last-minute goal to lose 3-2 to Mali in their opener on Friday. They got just the start they wanted as Alexander Geynrikh found the top right-hand corner of the net with a superbly-taken free kick after just five minutes.
Stunned into action, the Argentinians came back strongly and put tremendous pressure on the Uzbek goal only to be continually denied by goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.
Viktor Borisov's side held their own throughout the first half but they suffered a major blow 10 minutes after the break when Islam Innomov was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
The relentless Argentinian pressure finally paid off with 20 minutes remaining when German Herrera's low cross from the right was turned in by Leandro Fernandez for the equaliser.
Uzbekistan were unfortunate not to regain the lead when Roostam Kadirov struck the Argentinian upright late in the game.
Their misery was then compunded deep into injury time when Nesterov was adjudged to have fouled Herrera in the box and Argentine skipper Fernando Cavenaghi coolly slotted home the spot kick to sink the gallant Uzbeks.
"Anyone who knows anything about football will know how I feel right now. We played the best of games, we went a man down and lost in the last minute. You must all know what mood I'm in," said a despondant Borisov after the match.
Having lost both of their group matches so far, Uzbekistan will need a victory in their final group game against Spain - 2-0 winners over Mali on Monday - to progress to the last 16.