Qatar‘s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification will be in the balance when they face hosts Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in their eighth group game of the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
The home side are second last in fifth place with three points and defeat on Tuesday would end their hopes of qualification, while Qatar are in fourth place with 10 points and occupy the second of two qualification spots to the fourth round.
Match preview
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Kyrgyzstan were beaten 1-0 by Uzbekistan on March 20, and though they only produced one shot in the entire game, their hopes of victory were significantly damaged when Said Datsiev was sent off in 24th minute.
The hosts have conceded 14 goals and scored just six times in their seven group games so far, and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 10.
Boss Maksim Lisitsyn will hope to avoid a repeat of his side’s previous clash against Qatar when his team lost 3-1 on October 10, a match in which they faced 30 shots and five big chances while producing none of their own.
The White Falcons’ form is concerning considering they have been defeated in six of their past seven outings, drawing their prior two.
Kyrgyzstan’s record at home is mixed given they have lost two, been held to a stalemate in one and triumphed in two of their five most recent fixtures at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium.
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Opponents Qatar emerged as 5-1 victors against North Korea on March 20, taking a five-goal lead before conceding a consolation strike in the 86th minute.
The visitors had failed to score more than once in their previous four games, and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 in all competitions.
Head coach Luis Garcia will know that defeat on Tuesday could end his side’s hopes of automatic qualification to the World Cup given second-placed Uzbekistan are six points in front of his side, though a draw would all but guarantee progress to the next round of qualifying.
The Maroons come into the clash with just one win their past five – losing twice – while conceding 10 goals in that period.
Qatar are also winless in their six most recent outings on the road, succumbing to defeat on three occasions.
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Team News
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Kyrgyzstan will not be able to select wing-back Datsiev due to his red card, and his absence could lead to Christian Brauzman and Aleksandr Mishchenko flanking centre-backs Eldiyar Zarypbekov, Tamirlan Kozubaev and Valeriy Kichin.
Midfielders Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov, Adilet Kanybekov and Erbol Atabaev may be stationed behind strikers Joel Kojo and Kai Merk.
As for Qatar, they are almost certain to name a similar starting XI to the team that beat North Korea, so expect goalkeeper Meshaal Aissa Barsham to be shielded by defenders Tarek Salman, Pedro Miguel and Lucas Mendes.
Ahmed Fathi and Mostafa Mashaal were fielded together in a double pivot last time out, and they will likely retain their places behind attackers Akram Afif, Ahmed Al-Rawi and Ahmed Al Ganehi.
Kyrgyzstan possible starting lineup:
Tokotaev; Zarypbekov, Kozubaev, Kichin; Brauzman, Abdurakhmanov, Kanybekov, Atabaev, Mishchenko; Kojo, Merk
Qatar possible starting lineup:
Barsham; Salman, Miguel, Mendes; Naji, Fathi, Mashaal, Ahmed; Afif; Al-Rawi, Al Ganehi
We say: Kyrgyzstan 1-2 Qatar
Kyrgyzstan will take confidence from the fact Qatar have been poor on the road but it is difficult to overlook the hosts’ poor qualifying campaign.
Given the visitors’ showing in the reverse fixture against Kyrgyzstan, it would not be surprising if they managed to get the better of their opponents again.
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