Uzbekistan thrash Qatar in World Cup qualifier

Uzbekistan kept alive their chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals with a 4-0 thrashing of Qatar here on Saturday.

Uzbek striker Farhod Tajiev was the hero of the match scoring three consecutive goals, while teammate forward Anvarjon Soliev added another to finish off the drubbing.

The hosts, who went into the game bottom of their group with only one point from four matches, started lively pinning Qatar back to earn five corners in the opening eight minutes.

In the 32nd minute Qatar defender Bilal Rajab weakened his squad as he was sent off for aggressive behaviour.

The hosts exploited their one-man advantage just two minutes later when Tadjiev netted the opener with a close-range header after Qatar ‘keeper Mohamed Ahmed failed to clear Server Djeparov’s well-served corner.

Tadjiev made it 2-0 in first half injury time, again with a header from Jasur Hasanov’s precise left-handed cross.

Seven minutes after the break Tadjiev completed a classic hat-trick scoring with a header again from Timur Kapadze long cross.

Soliev netted their fourth in the 61st minute also with a header, lifting Uzbekistan into third spot with four points from five games above Bahrain and Qatar on goals difference.

In the other Group A match hosts Japan beat 1-0 Bahrain to jump into the top spot with 11 points, one point ahead of second-placed Australia, who have a game in hand.

The two Asian group winners and the two group runners-up will automatically qualify for the World Cup finals.

The third-placed teams from each group will play a home-and-away play-off, with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation play-off with New Zealand.