Iraq run out of steam as Uzbeks advance

Asian Football Confederation October 13 Uzbekistan booked their place in the Final Round of Asian qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup with an impressive away win over Iraq in Jordan on Wednesday night. The win gives Ravshan Haydarov’s team an unassailable lead at the top of Group 2, five points ahead of Iraq with one round of games remaining. For Iraq, the defeat is a sorry end to a year which has seen them get to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup and the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Athens. Uzbekistan’s heroes on the night were Maksim Shatskikh, the Dynamo Kiev striker making a rare appearance for the national team, and Alexander Geynrikh, who plays for CSKA Moscow. Two goals in the first 25 minutes for the visitors proved too much for Hamd’s side, who could not reduce the deficit until 16 minutes from time when Qusay Munir scored. Iraq, who drew with Uzbekistan in Tashkent in a World Cup qualifier held in February, have paid a heavy price for the 1-1 draw they played out with Palestine in March in their second Group 2 match. Iraq 1 Uzbekistan 2 Group 2 – Asian qualifying round