Asian Cup 2015: Saudi Arabia face Uzbekistan, promise to play for win
SAUDI Arabia coach Cosmin Olaroiu urged his players to strive for victory against Uzbekistan, even though a draw will put them into the quarter-finals.
SAUDI Arabia coach Cosmin Olaroiu urged his players to strive for victory against Uzbekistan at AAMI Park on Sunday evening despite knowing a draw will be enough to see them advance to the quarter-finals.
But Uzbek counterpart Mirdjalal Kasimov vowed to make life difficult for the Saudis in a match he dubbed “a final”, saying his team is “ready to fight” after Wednesday’s shock loss to China, in what is a do-or-die clash for both teams.
The winner will face the top side from Group A, containing both Australia and South Korea, at AAMI Park in next Thursday’s quarter-final, but the loser will be headed home.
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Both sides have defeated North Korea and lost to China in the past eight days, but Saudi Arabia currently occupies second spot owing to their superior goal difference.
That means a draw will be good enough for the Green Falcons to advance, but Olaroiu said playing for a draw is fraught with danger.
“Thanks to God that we have two chances, but we have to play, it’s the only way that we have, is to play,” Olaroiu said.
“Even for me it’s difficult, I don’t know how to explain to the players, because to obtain a draw is a consequence of the way you play.
“If you propose to draw, what do you tell them to do? Not to score when they have the chance?
“No, we have to play and we have to play in the way we done in the last two or three games.”
These two teams have met nine times — Saudi Arabia has won five, Uzbekistan three — but not since the Saudi’s 4-0 friendly win in Jeddah in 2010.
Kasimov insisted he was confident about his team’s chances.
“We’re expecting a very interesting game because Saudi is a traditionally well team, they are very strong, and we respect them very much,” Kasimov said.
“But we have no choice but to win and we know it very well. In game against China we made mistakes and that’s why we are in this position now, but anyway we believe in ourselves and we will do our best to reach the quarter-final stage.”
Olaroiu only took over as temporary Saudi coach on December 15 and will return to his club side, Al Ahli, regardless of the team’s Asian Cup result.
Kasimov, coach since 2012 and a former legend of the national team having scored 31 goals in 67 games, said he had not thought about his job security should Uzbekistan fail to get out of the group.
“We expect from [Sunday’s] match very much,” he said.
“If no, we have time to think about it.”
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Saudi Arabia face Uzbekistan, promise to play for win