Debutants Tajikistan created history by reaching the knockout stages of the Asian Cup with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Lebanon. Tajikistan, under the guidance of their Croatian coach Petar Segrt, have been one of the standout teams of the tournament. The victory secured their place in the last 16 alongside group winners Qatar.
In Group A, Qatar had already secured their spot in the knockout rounds and finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins out of three. They defeated China 1-0 in their final group game. The result leaves China's hopes of progressing hanging by a thread, as they now need to rely on being one of the four best third-placed teams to qualify.
The match between Tajikistan and Lebanon was full of drama. Tajikistan thought they had taken the lead just before half-time, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Lebanon then took the lead early in the second half through a superb strike from Bassel Jradi. However, their advantage was short-lived as they had a player sent off shortly after. Tajikistan capitalized on their numerical advantage and equalized through Parvizdzhon Umarbaev's free-kick in the 80th minute. They continued to push for a winner and found it in the dying moments of the game with Nuriddin Khamrokulov's delicate backwards header.
Tajikistan's achievement is a historic moment for the country, and their coach Segrt expressed his pride in the team's performance. He stated that he doesn't care who they face next and that they are focused on making their country proud. The team is set to meet with the president of Tajikistan to celebrate their success.
Meanwhile, China's disappointing campaign continued as they failed to score in any of their three group games. They couldn't find a way past a much-changed Qatar side, who had already secured their place in the next round. China's Wei Shihao was particularly wasteful in front of goal, and their lack of clinical finishing cost them dearly.
China now faces an anxious wait to see if their two points are enough to secure one of the four best third-placed spots. If they fail to progress, they will have no one to blame but themselves for their inability to find the back of the net.
As the Asian Cup group stage comes to an end, the tournament has already provided plenty of excitement and surprises. Debutants Tajikistan have made their mark on the competition, while Qatar has shown their strength as hosts and defending champions. The knockout stages promise to be even more thrilling as the remaining teams battle it out for Asian Cup glory.
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