Tajikistan's Croatian coach Petar Segrt celebrates with his assistant after the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group A football match between Tajikistan and Lebanon at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Hector Retamal / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: Nuriddin Khamrokulov’s stoppage-time goal sealed Tajikistan their place in the knock-out stage as the AFC Asian Cup debutants staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Lebanon 2-1 in their last Group A tie, yesterday.
With unbeaten Qatar already through, the victory took Tajikistan’s points tally to 4 as they finished the Group stage in second spot, surpassing China by two points, while Lebanon were eliminated with just one point.
Tajikistan’s Croatian coach Petar Segrt was elated with the remarkable victory and stated that the team managed to fulfill their first dream.
“Every day we stay here longer is fantastic. We have our first dream: we make the qualification. We have our second dream: we want to go to the second round. Now we dream again,” he said after the match.
“This is football. Every one of us has a dream,” Segrt said.
Both teams displayed resilience early on, showcasing a series of brilliant exchanges.
Tajikistan's players celebrate their win after the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group A football match between Tajikistan and Lebanon at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Hector Retamal / AFP)
Tajikistan’s Zoir Dzhuraboev headed a cross in the 24th minute, stopped by Lebanon’s goalkeeper Mostafa Matar before his Manuchehr Safarov struck the crossbar, nearly giving the Central Asian team the lead. On the other hand, Lebanon’s Bassel Jradi posed a challenge for Tajikistan keeper Rustam Yatimov with a tricky shot. Shervoni Mabatshoev’s goal just before the halftime break was disallowed for offside by a margin which the experts called ‘a length of a toe nail’.
Segrt praised his team for the fighting spirit despite the disallowed goal which could have brought them mentally down. “It’s mentally very difficult to come back (after such VAR decisions) and today we continued to fight,” Segrt said. “These players are fighting, they are ready to do everything for their country.”
Upon return, Tajikistan kept the pressure on before Lebanon took the lead through Bassel Jradi who was assisted by Hassan Srour and curled a shot into the far corner beyond the reach of Yatimov.
However, Lebanon soon faced a shock as Kassem El Zein received a red card in the 56th minute following a VAR review. Tajikistan soon took advantage of the weakened defence as Alisher Dzhalilov found the net in the 69th minute, only to see the goal to be disallowed due to offside.
Tajikistan’s Nuriddin Khamrokulov (right) celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal against Lebanon. AFP
It was Parvizdzhon Umarbaev who scored Tajikistan’s historic maiden goal in the AFC Asian Cup in the 80th minute with a well-executed free kick, won by Shahrom Samiev.
Assisted by Ehson Panjshanbe with a long-range pass in the second minute of added time, Nuriddin Khamrokulov headed the winner over goalkeeper Matar to seal a historic win for Tajikistan.
Tajikistan will meet the runner-up of Group C in their Round of 16 match on January 28.
“Believe me, I don’t care who is coming,” Segrt told beINSPORTS, asked who he wanted to face next.
