Group B: Uzbekistan 1-0 DPR Korea

AFC Asian Cup – SYDNEY, Igor Sergeev secured a winning start for Uzbekistan at the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 on Saturday with the only goal in his side’s 1-0 win over DPR Korea in the teams’ Group B opener at a rain-lashed Stadium Australia.

The Pakhtakor striker netted with a fine header just after the hour mark to secure all three points for Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side as they look to build on the country’s last four finish in Qatar in 2011.

The Central Asian nation – who took fourth place at the last event four years ago – controlled large swathes of the game, but were unable to make their dominance tell until Sergeev nodded in Server Djeparov’s cross from the left.

Odil Ahmedov had an early sight of goal when he tried his luck with a speculative long-range effort with just four minutes on the clock that went woefully wide before Timur Kapadze thought he was set to give Uzbekistan the lead.

The Kazakhstan-based midfielder’s header of Sanjar Tursunov’s right-wing cross went beyond Ri Myong-guk, only for the ball to rebound off the goalkeeper’s right post and bounce into the World Cup veteran’s arms.

Tursunov could only find Ri Myong-guk’s arms when he tried his luck just after the half hour mark while Vitaly Denisov’s low 40th minute cross was narrowly missed both by Ahmedov and Djeparov before being steered to safety.

Pak Kwang-ryong had DPR Korea’s only realistic effort of the opening 45 minutes when he headed just wide of the target after Jong Il-kwan’s pass.

With the start of the second half came the torrential rain, which swept across the stadium to make conditions almost impossible.

But as the weather improved, the Uzbeks stepped up the pace and, in the 62nd minute, Kasimov’s side were in front thanks to Sergeev’s header from right on the penalty spot following two-time AFC Player of the Year Djeparov’s floating centre that invited a firm, decisive conclusion.

Uzbekistan almost claimed a second when Ri Yong-jik went close to directing Tursunov’s free kick past his own goalkeeper with 10 minutes remaining while, with just three minutes left of the clock, the Ukraine-based midfielder’s close-range effort was straight at Ri Myong-guk.

The Uzbeks were almost made to pay for missing those opportunities with the last action of the game when Pak Kwang-ryong directed his powerful header towards goal, but Ignatiy Nesterov’s reflex save was good enough to ensure Kasimov’s side held on for the win.