Tajikistan advances to the Asian Cup quarterfinals after stunning the UAE on penalties

In their Asian Cup debut, Tajikistan caused a surprise by defeating the United Arab Emirates 5-3 in a penalty shootout on Sunday, securing a spot in the quarter-finals and extending their dream run. The match concluded 1-1 after extra time, with Vahdat Hanonov giving Tajikistan the lead in the first half, and Khalifa Al Hammadi equalizing with a stoppage-time header.

During the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov saved Caio Canedo’s attempt for the UAE, while Alisher Shukurov’s successful spot kick made history for Tajikistan as they became only the second tournament debutants, after Australia in 2007, to reach the quarter-finals. This achievement stands as a remarkable upset for Tajikistan, surpassing the impact of Australia’s transition to the AFC.

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Despite being ranked outside the top 100, the central Asian team led by Petar Segrt finds themselves 42 positions below the UAE, a team that had previously reached the semi-finals in both the 2015 and 2019 editions.

With a smile, Segrt informed reporters, “No one in Tajikistan will be able to sleep tonight.” He reflected on the challenging moment when the score was tied at 1-1 in the 94th minute, expressing, “Everybody was feeling down, but I quickly urged the players to rise. If you stumble, get back up.”

He passionately conveyed to them, “Come on, everything is possible. Don’t give up.” Segrt attributed their success to the players’ character, the coaching staff, the nation, and their resilient spirit.

Acknowledging a bit of luck in the end, he shared, “I know my dream, my next dream is to go to the next round – again.”

Following a cautious beginning, Tajikistan broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark when Khanonov outmaneuvered the defense, heading in Zoir Dzhuraboev’s cross. The ball narrowly crossed the line despite UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa’s effort to make a save.

UAE STUNNED

• Tajikistan continued their aggressive play in the second half, creating numerous counter-attack opportunities that they couldn’t capitalize on. The UAE, appearing shell-shocked, witnessed their coach Paulo Bento displaying frustration on the sidelines.

Alisher Dzhalilov came close to doubling the lead, receiving a cross at the far post but shooting wide. Nuriddin Khamrokulov’s header from a corner also missed the mark, flying to the right of the post.

In the end, UAE managed to make Tajikistan pay in second-half stoppage time, with Al Hammadi’s header forcing the game into extra time. The Gulf country’s fans regained their voice, and the beat of their drums reached a fever pitch.

However, the UAE supporters were left in stunned silence as Tajikistan converted all their penalty kicks, prompting wild celebrations from the Tajikistan dugout.

Segrt accidentally broke his glasses in a previous celebration when they secured qualification from the group stage. This time, the cautious Croatian took preventive measures, stating, “I was fortunate; I saw the players approaching to celebrate, so I handed my glasses to the team manager, saying, ‘Save my glasses.'”

On Monday, Tajikistan will discover their quarter-final opponents following the match between Iraq and Jordan.

Bento acknowledged the challenge of the game, emphasizing the loss of midfielder Abdullah Ramadan to injury in the early first half. Regarding speculation about his future after their elimination, Bento expressed indifference, saying, “I don’t care about the speculation surrounding my future. I had mentioned it would be a balanced game, and that’s exactly what occurred. Instead of focusing solely on the losing team, it’s important to congratulate the opponent. They capitalized on their strengths, and we couldn’t prevent that. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the competition.”