TASHKENT – Turkmenistan came from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw against Qatar in Group A to seal a historic AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 quarter-final ticket at the Bunyodkor Stadium on Tuesday.
Debutants Turkmenistan looked to be heading out after Qatar’s Osamah al-Tairi scored in the 65th and 73rd minutes but they refused to give up as Begencmyrat Myradov replied with two goals of his own in the 75th and 82nd minutes.
With Iran only managing a 1-1 draw with Group A winners Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan finished second on four points and will face Group B’s top side Australia in the quarter-finals.
Having stunned Iran 2-1 on Matchday Two, a second win would mean knockout stage qualification for Turkmenistan while Qatar – on one point from two games – needed victory to keep their hopes alive.
Qatar, looking to prove themselves following their 6-0 defeat to Uzbekistan, started on the front foot with the West Asian side coming close in the eighth minute when Ahmed al-Ganehi found space inside the six-yard-box, cutting back to Mostafa Tarek, who set up al -Tairi, whose shot forced a fine save from Turkmenistan keeper Rasul Charyyev.
Charyyev came under pressure again moments later when he was forced into a save to deny Mekki Tombari’s effort off a corner before the Ahal FC shotshopper kept out Jassem Gaber’s header.
Turkmenistan came alive in the 11th minute on the counter attack when Meylis Diniyev burst into the Qatar box before finding an unmarked Teymur Charyyev, who flashed his effort above the bar. Qatar were denied a goal in the 24th minute when Charyyev raced off his line to act as a sweeper, closing down an advancing Tombari, but his challenge cleared the path for al-Tairi, who saw his shot cleared on the line by Yhlas Toydjanov.
Turkmenistan’s confidence grew and they almost found the opener a minute from the half-time whistle when Samammet Hydyrow teed-up Rahman Myratberdiyew, whose long-range effort was tipped over the bar by Qatar custodian Salah Zakaria.
Qatar almost found a breakthrough in the 52nd minute when Tombari whipped in a delightful cross from a set-piece situation only for Yousef Ayman to smash his headed effort against the bar.
Turkmenistan’s Charyyev almost produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 53rd minute when he dribbled past two Qatar defenders but his effort to cross the ball from inside the box was cleared by Ayman. Qatar’s patience was finally rewarded in the 65th minute with Tarek combining well with Jassem Gaber at the top of the box before floating the ball in for al-Tairi to nod home the opener.
Al-Tairi then scored Qatar’s second goal of the evening when he produced a sublime piece
of skill to volley home Jassim al-Mehairi’s cross from the left flank Turkmenistan, however, clawed their way back into the tie when Myradov pounced on a rebound after Zakaria failed to hold on to Charyyev’s long-range effort in the 75th minute.
The goal proved to be the perfect tonic as their efforts to push for an equaliser bore fruit in the 82nd minute when Myradov rose highest to nod home off a corner to ensure Turkmenistan continued their AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 journey.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee