Asian Cup: Qatar 0 Uzbekistan 2

An unstoppable strike from Odil Ahmedov helped Uzbekistan hand host nation Qatar a 2-0 opening defeat in the Asian Cup on Friday.

Qatar weathered a first-half storm at the Khalifa International Stadium and were finally working their way into the match when Ahmedov unleashed an extraordinary long-range effort that swerved beyond goalkeeper Qasem Burhan and into the net just before the hour mark.

Khalfan Ibrahim then gifted Uzbekistan a second with 13 minutes remaining.

The substitute played a loose pass across the face of goal that was intercepted by Uzbekistan captain Server Djeparov.

With Burhan stranded by his team-mate’s error, Djeparov made it 2-0 with a simple finish to kill the game.

Uzbekistan should have gone ahead on numerous occasions in the first half after tearing apart a ragged Qatari defence.

Full-back Hamid Ismail proved ill-equipped to deal with the threat of Jasur Khasanov, who fashioned numerous chances but lacked the killer touch to finish them off.

Qatar might have taken the lead against the run of play when naturalised Brazilian Fabio Cesar hit the post with a free-kick seven minutes before half-time.

A chance went begging early in the second half when Sebastian Soria won an aerial challenge with Uzbekistan keeper Ignatiy Nesterov and set up Hussain Abdulrahman, but the Zamalek men took too long, allowing the ball to be intercepted by a grateful defender.

Uzbekistan would soon make Qatar pay for spurning their only chances, and as the pressure built Ahmedov and Aziz Haydarov combined down the right to forge a decent opportunity.

The ever dangerous Khasanov had a shot tipped just over by Burhan on 57 minutes, but the keeper could do nothing to keep out Ahmedov’s pile driver a minute later and he was left equally helpless for Djeparov’s second.

There were glimpses of goal for Qatar late on, with El Sayed Mohammed breaking into the box only to see a shot smothered.

Yusuf Ahmed shot straight at Nesterov when put through on goal, but there was no way back for the hosts, who now have it all do it if they are to avoid bowing out at the group stage.

Victory sees Uzbekistan top Group A with three points, ahead of Kuwait and China, who play on Saturday.