Khaydarov commends fighting spirit

AFC – TASHKENT, Pakhtakor boss Ravshan Khaydarov saluted his side’s battling spirit after they kept their 2011 AFC Champions League campaign alive with a 2-1 victory over Esteghlal at Pakhtakor Stadium.

Arash Borhani had cancelled out Stanislav Andreev’s superb opener in first-half stoppage time but with the Group B game seemingly heading for a draw, Hanif Omranzadeh was sent-off for two bookable offences and from the resulting free-kick, Igor Krimets headed home unmarked in the six-yard box to settle the contest in favour of the home side.

The result means the Uzbeks draw level with Esteghlal on four points and reignites their hopes of a place in the last 16.

“I congratulate our fans with the victory. We managed to win a very difficult match. Esteghlal are a strong team and they gained the initiative early in the game.

“We could only play freely after we scored the first goal. In the second-half our team played better. During the break I said to my players that they were not afraid of the opponent.

“The fact is that most players are still young and they are still afraid of competition. I always say that they should forget this fear. Well, today in the second-half, the players began to play at full strength. I asked them to play without fear.”

“Egor (Krimets) lacks experience but over time it will add to his skill. I think that Egor will be helped by the fact that today he scored the winning goal. All the young players of our team still have to work on themselves to continue to grow in a professional sense.”

Esteghlal boss Parviz Mazloomi has now targeted victories in the Iranians’ final two games in order to clinch a place in the last 16.

“It was important to win today, that was required by our position in the group standing,” he said.

“In the first-half, we controlled the game. However, we conceded the first goal. In the second-half, our opponent played great.

“When we had the player sent off, I did not have time to make a substitution. As a result, we conceded the goal from the area that was occupied by that player.

“We will play two more matches. If we win both, then we will have 10 points and will qualify for the next round. I hope that Pakhtakor will be able to do the same.”