Qatar’s hopes in balance after 3-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan

Ten-man Qatar slipped to a 3-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan in their Group A Asian qualifiers – Road to 26 match in Bishkek as Iran confirmed their qualification for the next year’s global showpiece event on Tuesday.
Two goals in 11 minutes earned Kyrgyzstan a key win over Asian Champions Qatar to keep alive the central Asian nation’s hopes of a place in the playoffs as Maksim Lisitskin’s side claimed victory.
Aleksandr Mischenko thumped a left-foot strike from distance beyond Meshaal Barsham to put the White Falcons on front with eight minutes remaining and Alimardon Shukurov put the result beyond doubt with a neat finish three minutes into injury time.
Those goals came after Valeriy Kichin’s opener in first half injury time had been cancelled out by Lucas Mendes in the 52nd minute, two minutes before the defender was sent off to leave the AFC Asian Cup holders shorthanded.
The win was Kyrgyzstan’s second in the third phase of the preliminaries and moves Lisitskin’s side onto six points from eight matches, four adrift of the fourth-placed Qataris with two games remaining.
Mishchenko had headed wide in the 10th minute for the hosts while Shukurov could have done better three minutes later when he pulled his effort wide of Barsham’s left post as the home side made a strong start. Qatar had rarely threatened despite dominating the possession but could have taken the lead in the 28th minute.
Naji Hussein raced into the penalty area before cutting the ball back towards Almoez Ali but the striker, returning to the team after missing the 5-1 win over DPR Korea on Thursday, thumped his rising shot inches over the bar.
Barsham was left motionless with three minutes remaining of the opening half as Kyrgyzstan went closest to going in front. Shukurov’s strike from distance came out of nothing and the goalkeeper could only watch as it crashed against his crossbar.
Moments later the Qatar goalkeeper was beaten. Kichin’s low free kick was curled towards goal and, while Kozubaev moved in the direction of the ball, no one made contact as the delivery bounced past Barsham.
Kyrgyzstan’s lead was to only last until the seventh minute of the second half as Akram Afif’s corner unlocked the home defence, the AFC Player of the Year landing his set-piece on the head of Ahmed Suhail and his flick clipped Mendes on its way past Erzhan Tokotaev.
Moments later Qatar’s hopes suffered a serious blow as Mendes was dismissed for a high follow-through when he tackled Kai Merk. Both sides pushed for the winner, with Ali thrashing his shot straight at Tokotaev with nine minutes remaining before Mischenko netted, sending a curling shot high into the net over Barsham’s outstretched hand.
Shukurovi then put the result beyond doubt with a low left-foot finish to complete a famous win for Kyrgyzstan. Iran became the second Asian side to secure their place in the World Cup after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Uzbekistan in Tehran on Tuesday.
Needing a point to join Japan among the Asian nations at the finals, the Iranians twice went behind only for Inter Milan striker Taremi to rescue his team and book their ticket for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Hojimat Erkinov put Uzbekistan ahead in the 16th minute, making the most of hesitation in the Iranian defence to slide his shot past Alireza Beiranvand.
But seven minutes into the second half Taremi levelled, lashing an unstoppable volley over the outstretched hand of Utkir Yusupov. It took Uzbekistan a minute to reclaim the lead, Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s free kick from the left evading three home defenders, who allowed the ball to bounce beyond Beiranvand and across the line.
Taremi, however, bailed out his team again with seven minutes remaining, pouncing with his outstretched boot on a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box to score.
The point guarantees Iran one of the two automatic berths available from Group A at the finals as Amir Ghalenoei’s side move onto 20 points from eight games, 7 more than third-placed UAE, who beat North Korea 2-1 on Tuesday.
Uzbekistan remain in second place on 17 points.