Australia enter Asian Cup final with 6-0 rout of Uzbekistan

Australia earn a date with Japan to battle it out for the Asian Cup in the final scheduled for January 29


Australia's midfielder Carl Valeri (C) scores his team's fifth goal against Uzbekistan during their 2011 Asian Cup semi-final football match at Khalifa Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha.

Image Credit: AFP

 Doha: Australia hit Uzbekistan for a six and earned a date with Japan to battle it out for the Asian Cup in the final scheduled for January 29.

Asia’s top-ranked team mauled Uzbekistan, ranked 108, 6-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal and take on the continent’s second-ranked and three-time winners Japan.

After losing out in the quarterfinals four years back, the 2010 World Cup finalists, made it to their first final and got their goals through Harry Kewell (5th), Sasa Ognenovski (34th), David Carney (65th), Brett Emerton (74th), Carl Valeri (82nd) and Robbie Kruse (83rd).

Australia forged ahead in the very 5th minute when the combination that snatched a late winner against Iraq struck again. Young Matt McKay found Harry Kewell with a nice pass and the latter made no mistake with a classy shot.

Uzbekistan, who have been impressive in their group games, began to build their moves and did it with some quick passing but they just could not finish their fine approach work. Maksim Shatskikh had a good try with a free-kick in the 17th minute but his effort was narrowly off the mark. And just when they increased their attacks, Australia got their second goal through their central defender. Sasa Ognenovski shot home off Tim Cahill as the Uzbekistan defence were left rooted following a free-kick in the 34th minute.

Though they were down 2-0, it looked like Uzbekistan would come out fighting in the second half but it was Australia who looked sharper and kept the Uzbeks in check.

David Carney overlapped on the left but Temur Juraev saved at the near post but almost conceded another in the 57th minute. He let slip a ball and with Cahill and Carney charging for the loose ball in front of goal Anzur Ismailov thwarted danger.

However, in about eight minutes Uzbekistan’s dream of a Cup final lay in tatters. Carney made up for his earlier miss when he shot through Juraev’s legs in the 65th minute after McKay had once again done the spade work.

Odil Ahmedov almost pulled one back but Mark Schwarzer saved and off the counter attack that Australia launched, Uzbek’s quarterfinal hero Ulugbek Bakaev turned villain. His second illegal tackle of the match earned him the red card and with that Uzbek’s fightback was all but over.

Then Australia missed a few easy chances before substitute Brett Emerton, who missed the quarterfinal due to suspension, got his name in the scorer’s books with an easy goal.

McKay’s championship got better when he turned provider for the third time and Carl Valeri made it 5-0. It did not stop there for the very next minute substitute Robbie Kruse dribbled past two defenders, evaded a third and shot home to complete a night-marish night for Juraev under the Uzbek goal.