AL-AIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (AFP) - A spectacular goalkeeping blunder helped Marcello Lippi's China avoid a humiliating defeat as they came from behind to narrowly beat minnows Kyrgyzstan 2-1 at the Asian Cup on Monday (Jan 7).
The Central Asians, ranked 91st in the world and playing their first major tournament, bossed the first half and deservedly led 1-0 at the break of their Group C clash after Akhlidin Israilov's rasping strike.
But panicky Kyrgyz goalkeeper Pavel Matiash committed the howler of the Asian Cup so far, when he palmed the ball into his own net shortly after half-time, before Beijing Guoan forward Yu Dabao grabbed the winner 12 minutes before the end.
It spared China's blushes against a team of players who ply their trade in leagues as diverse as Bangladesh and the Turkish amateur ranks, while both Matiash and Israilov are clubless.
Lippi, who is expected to depart his post at the end of the Asian Cup, said he was "enormously unhappy" at China's first half, but proud of their revival.
"During the first half we weren't playing well, and I thought if we keep playing like that we're going to lose the match," said the 2006 World Cup-winning coach with Italy.
"After the reaction from my players in the second half, I'm happy that we won the three points."
Kyrgyzstan coach Alexandr Krestinin refused to blame his goalkeeper and said his team would keep fighting, with games against South Korea and the Philippines to come.
"We're not talking about the mistake from one person - it was the whole team that lost the game," he said. "We missed chances in the first half, but this is how the game is at big tournaments and we know that." .
Outrageous fortune
Kyrgyzstan were far from overawed by their Asian Cup debut as they attacked from the outset at Al Ain's sun-drenched Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium.
In an open first half, China's Wu Lei had the first shot in anger but Vitaly Lux should have scored for Kyrgyzstan on 26 minutes when he fired well over after a brilliant touch from Mirlan Murzaev.
Wu Xi, set up by Wu Lei, flashed one wide three minutes later but Kyrgyzstan were causing serious problems at the other end, with 14 players packing the six-yard box for one corner.
Lux could not get on the end of Bekzhan Sagynbaev's enticing header across the face of goal but it was not long before Kyrgyzstan's imaginative build-up play created the breakthrough.
Three minutes before half-time, Murzaev's header fell perfectly for Israilov just outside the box and the out-of-contract midfielder smashed his shot in off the right post.
Moments later, Lux had a gilt-edged opportunity to make it 2-0 but he poked his shot just wide when one-on-one with China goalkeeper Yan Junling.
China came out with renewed purpose after the break and they benefited from an outrageous piece of luck when Matiash handled into his own net on 50 minutes.
Matiash attempted to palm Bernhardt Edgar's defensive header from a corner over the bar but only succeeded in batting it over the line.
It took the wind out of the White Falcons' sails and as they tired, Wu Xi and Wu Lei both came close with headers - while Matiash nearly gifted them a second goal when he fumbled a back pass.
A Chinese winner looked inevitable and it was Yu who completed the turnaround, rounding Matiash and scoring from a tight angle on 78 minutes.
Solskjaer trusts De Gea. If anyone at Manchester United has earned the right to be forgiven for a few dodgy games, it is David de Gea, says his boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who sees the goalkeeper
Solskjaer confirms De Gea will start for Man United against
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run. New boss in the stands after agreeing terms earlier in day
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run
Jermaine Jenas has called on Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino to drop goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and bring in second-choice stopper Paulo Gazzaniga. Pundit says Spurs must consider
Football: Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1 0:0 Comments Football: Vardy double gives Leicester comfortable 4-1 win at Huddersfield 0:0 Comments Football: Recovering Pele set to return to Brazil on Monday, says adviser 0:0 Comments Football: Young Lions beaten, but not discouraged, after SPL loss to Home United 0:0 Comments
Football: Manchester City owners team with robot-makers to
Gambler's stakes -- Find potential answers to this crossword clue at crosswordnexus.com
High stakes gambler - TheFreeDictionary.com
Arsenal back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Alex Iwobi deflected strike gave Arsenal 16th-minute lead Alexandre Lacazette's 10th league goal of season made it two Late own goal from Sead Kolasinac was consolation for hosts Arsenal still without away Premier League clean sheet all season Huddersfield bottom, 13 points from safety; Arsenal stayed sixth Arsenal host
Soccer: Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Solskjaer scored the winning goal for Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final. This move may yet be the greatest masterstroke of all by Woodward and his fellow powerbrokers at Old
Ole Gunnar Solskjær - Wikipedia
Boyle was a key for Socceroos : Arnold . Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has revealed he viewed injured winger Martin Boyle as a key part of his Asian Cup title defence. Three tactical questions for Graham Arnold ahead of Socceroos opener The Socceroos begin their Asian Cup defence against Jordan on Sunday night at 10pm.
Speed key for Socceroos to catch Chile on the hop, writes
So today we wanted to do a video on the seven best goalkeepers in world football right now, and depending on how many people watch it and what kind of response we get in the comments and on
Brian Jensen gives his take on Burnley's goalkeepers
I do agree and have said so in many posts, the lack of control over the games is a major cause of our defensive problems. But even after that, individually the back line is not good enough. 1 vs 1, playing from the back, tracking runners, tackling the ball off the opp or generally dealing with technical players…etc All are glaring problems.
Starship Gunner - A free Action Game - Games at Miniclip.com
TOTTENHAM AND PALACE FANS REACT: Spurs to Host The Eagles in First League Game at the New Stadium * Tottenham will play Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game at the new stadium
First Game At New Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur To Play Crystal
Paris Saint-Germain shook off their Champions League hangover and resumed their canter towards another French title on Tuesday as they cruised to a 4-0 win in Dijon. Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored PSG's goals in their first outing since their disastrous exit from the Champions League in the last
PSG win in first outing since Champions League nightmare
0 comments:
Post a Comment