Asian Football Federation
November 17

Uzbekistan 4 (Vladimir Shishelov 8th, 36th, Timur Kopadze 50th, Leonid Koshelev 61st) Tajikistan 1 (Pirmurod Burkhanov 65th).

Uzbekistan coasted along the road to next year's Asian Cup finals with a thumping 4-1 victory over Tajikistan in Bangkok on Monday.

The win gave Uzbekistan 10 points from four matches in Group A and only a major blow out can stop them taking their place amongst Asia's elite in China next July.

The race is now on for the second qualifying place with Tajikistan on five points, Hong Kong on four and Thailand three. Thailand defeated Hong Kong 4-0 in the first match of the double header at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

The Uzbeks looked lively up front and their towering defence had little trouble coping with Tajikistan's limited attack.

Uzbekistan took the field without Dynamo Kiev hit man Maxim Shatskikh, who has been nominated for this season's AFC Player of the Year award, and Lokomotiv Moscow duo Vladimir Maminov and Oleg Pashinin.

The trio, all with UEFA Champions League experience this season, returned to their clubs after the games in Tashkent last week.

Even without their support, striker Vladimir Shishelov, who scored two goals against both Hong Kong and Thailand last week, looked sharp and he grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign after just eight minutes.

He rose unmarked in the centre of the penalty area to head home a cross from the right.

The striker repeated the dose in the 36th minute powerfully heading home a beautifully flighted cross from the right wing by Victor Karpenko.

Uzbekistan started positively in the second half and after a couple of near things Timur Kopadze scored the third goal, finding the net in the 50th minute after the Tajikistan defence failed to clear a corner.

Leonid Koshelev nabbed the fourth goal in the 61st minute rounding off a quick break with a crisp shot before subsititute Pirmurod Burkhanov collected a consolation goal for Tajikistan.

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