Curse of the invisible goal

Uzbeks’ misfortune continues after refs miss valid strike

SINGAPORE: Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov was left cursing his luck yesterday after an apparent goal against Iran was missed by officials, extending his team’s record of misfortune in World Cup qualifying.

Abramov insisted Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to the regional giants, snatched by a breakaway goal in the dying seconds, was not a “tragedy” for his team with only one game played in the final qualifying round for Brazil 2014.

But the loss was another cruel blow for Uzbekistan, whose tilt at the 2006 World Cup was undone by a sequence of events stemming from a refereeing blunder.

“We scored a goal in the second half, but the referees didn’t see it. Iran had two chances and won it,” Abramov said.

It was a fair assessment of a game which Uzbekistan dominated, and should have led when Odil Ahmedov’s close-range shot was parried by defender Seyed Hosseini. TV replays indicated Hosseini was behind the goal-line.

But the incident went unnoticed by japanese referee Yuichinishimura and his assistants.

The latest in a line of similar cases comes after world body FIFA tested

We scored a goal in the second half, but the referees didn’t see it. Iran had two chances and won it. We lost the game, but it is not a tragedy. — UZBEKISTAN COACH VADIM ABRAMOV

goal-line technology at England’s friendly against Belgium on Saturday.

Then in the last attack of the game, Iranian substitute Mohammad Khalatbari latched on to a cross from Karim Ansari and unerringly slotted it past Uzbek goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov, who had hardly had a shot to save all night.

The events recalled qualifying for Germany 2006, when Uzbekistan won their first-leg playoff 1-0 with Bahrain, but asked for a replay after the referee wrongly chalked off a penalty for encroachment.

The replay ended 1-1 and the second leg was drawn 0-0, but Bahrain went through to an intercontinental playoff on the away goals rule. Uzbekistan have never reached a World Cup Finals.

“We lost the game, but it is not a tragedy ... the hope will not die until the last moment,” Abramov said. “We are looking forward to the next games.

“I hope we will change our situation situation as our aim is to go to the World Cup.”

Asian champions Japan encountered no such problems in a straightforward 3-0 win over Oman, while neighbours Jordan and Iran fought to a 1-1 draw in Amman.

Qatar capitalised on a horrendous defensive error as they beat Lebanon 1-0. Lebanon defender Ramez Dayoub fed an inexplicable backpass into the path of Uruguay-born hitman Sebastian Soria, who made no mistake for the only goal.

Qualifying resumes on Friday with Qatar playing South Korea, Lebanon versus Uzbekistan, Oman against Australia and Japan facing Jordan.

The winners and runners-up of two groups of 10 qualify for Brazil 2014, with the two third-placed teams going into a playoff for the right to face off with an African team.