DOHA: Uzbekistan scored a late equalizer as they moved into the Asian Cup knockout rounds after a 1-1 draw with already qualified Australia on Tuesday.
The Socceroos were looking to win all three group games at the Asian Cup for the first time and took the lead through Martin Boyle’s controversial first-half penalty in Doha.
But Azizbek Turgunboev outjumped Aziz Behich to head home in the 78th minute as Uzbekistan eased through to the last 16.
Australia won Group B ahead of Uzbekistan, with Syria beating India 1-0 to finish third.
Australia thought they had taken the lead when Kusini Yengi headed home with 10 minutes gone, only for the strapping Portsmouth striker to be flagged offside.
Uzbekistan’s Umar Eshmurodov was lucky to escape with only a yellow card when he tripped Boyle while clear through on goal midway through the first half.
Riley McGree was guilty of a shocking miss five minutes before half-time with the goal at his mercy after Yengi had danced his way through the Uzbekistan defense.
But Australia were given a reprieve when a VAR check judged that the ball had hit Uzbek defender Odiljon Hamrobekov’s hand in the build-up as he slid in to tackle Yengi.
Boyle dispatched the penalty low into the corner to send the Socceroos into half-time with the lead.
Uzbekistan substitute Jaloliddin Masharipov came close to an equalizer with a whipped free-kick shortly after the restart.
The Central Asians then had a goal disallowed when Eshmurodov headed home from a free-kick, only to be flagged for offside.
But they got their reward when substitute Turgunboev got on the end of a cross to head in Uzbekistan’s equalizer.
It was the first goal Australia had conceded at the Asian Cup, following wins over India and Syria.
Australia top group, Uzbekistan also into Asian Cup last 16
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Australia top group, Uzbekistan also into Asian Cup last 16
- The Socceroos were looking to win all three group games at the Asian Cup for the first time
- Australia won Group B ahead of Uzbekistan, with Syria beating India 1-0 to finish third
Rodrygo’s winner lifts Real Madrid past Alaves to end losing streak
- The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain: Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of leaders Barcelona.
Real, under pressure after two straight losses in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappe’s stunning first-half strike.
However, a resilient Alaves levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitors restored their lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counter-attack led by Vinicius Jr, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo.
The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points.
The narrow triumph in the Basque Country provided manager Xabi Alonso with much-needed breathing space after a run of two wins from their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Sunday’s victory demonstrated Real’s resilience and ongoing weaknesses. Despite taking a 24th-minute lead through Mbappe’s spectacular strike, they found themselves outplayed by an Alaves side roared on by a sold-out Mendizorrotza stadium.
Mbappe had opened the scoring in trademark fashion after Jude Bellingham threaded a long pass to the French forward, who ran down the left channel before cutting inside and unleashing a bullet strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Despite Real’s early lead, Alaves grew dominant as the first half progressed. The hosts pressured Real’s makeshift defense, which featured 19-year-old academy graduate Victor Valdepenas in his senior debut at left back.
Alaves’ pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when substitute Vicente, introduced moments earlier, latched onto Antonio Blanco’s long ball and surged past Real’s high defensive line to finish into the top corner.
Initially flagged offside, Vicente’s goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly.
Real’s winner came as Vinicius wrestled past a defender on the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a low cross, finding Rodrygo, who slid in to steer the ball home from close range.
“It was a tough, very competitive match,” Alonso told a press conference.
“We started well and took the lead, but then we lost control and, as a result, we didn’t finish well. We had chances in the second half, but we conceded from the only mistake Valdepenas made and Carlos Vicente took advantage of that, after a great pass.
“But the team continued to fight hard, battling it out in a difficult stadium against a very intense opponent. That second goal gave us the three points and we’re leaving here very happy.”
