AsianCup2023 | Group F : Kyrgyz Republic 1 - 1 Oman

The final games of the group stage in this year's Asian Cup get underway as the Kyrgyz Republic take on Oman in a do-or-die match in Group F. Oman picked up their first point in a goalless draw with Thailand in their last game, while the Kyrgyz Republic are yet to register after back-to-back losses. Both teams can still qualify but they'll have to win here today to stand any chance. A draw means both teams will go home. The team new to the Kyrgyz Republic, Akhmatov and Merk are both suspended after red cards against Saudi Arabia, but captain Tamerlan Kozovaev takes his place at centre-back. For Oman, Branko Ivankovic names an unchanged side apart from Abdulrahman who comes in to replace Issam Al-Sadi. The first corner goes to Oman and it's into a pack of players. Tokutayev trying to clear it and did that cross the line. A chaotic start to the game but VAR had a look at this and it will be allowed to stand. Musa Al-Ghazani with the vital touch to put Oman into an early lead. Oman with that advantage at the other end. Kozo feeds it into Batakanov makes a foray into the penalty area before setting up Muza Bekov and it's high and over the bar but it was a good opportunity for the Kyrgyz Republic around the half hour mark as they try and find a way back into this game. It's a ball through for Kozo to chase. Manreliev is arriving at the back post it'll come through to him but the touch is heavy and it gets away from him. It's fired across with pace and it came to him at an awkward height and another chance goes begging to go into halftime with Oman ahead and Kyrgyzstan will have to come out and show what they've got in this second half. They do that straight away with the ball into Kozo. He meets it up with a fine head up. Did he make his run a little bit too early? Indeed VAR will cancel this one out and it remains one nil to Oman. Into the 66th minute. Salah's defence splitting pass puts in Abdulrahman and Tokurtayev is there to tip it around the post. At full stretch he makes a brilliant fingertip save. Oman close to getting that insurance goal they desperately need. From that shot the short corner one from the training ground comes out to Arshad Al-Alawi fires it in and Tokurtayev is there again making a string of superb saves making up for that earlier error at the beginning of the game with some brilliant goalkeeping. It's the 80th minute the Kyrgyz Republic with a hopeful ball forwards for Kozo to chase. Abdulrahman's come but he hasn't cleared a little for to Kozo and he passes it into the back of the net to level the score. It's an unbelievable mix-up in Oman's defence and it could prove catastrophic. Kozo nipping in to score his second goal of the competition and set up a grandstand finale as Oman pour forwards. They need another goal another save from Tokurtayev. Salah with the defence backing off shifts it onto his right foot the whipped shot is brilliantly pushed around the post and from a corner Oman with everyone forwards Issam Al-Sabi rises highest and it's inches away from the winner and it's the last roll of the dice now for Oman. It's down the right hand side it's crossed in and it's blocked by Brausman. Al-Sabi's header again but the chance has gone and the game will finish 1-1. It's the result neither side wanted meaning elimination from the Asian Cup. Oman got the early lead and had plenty of chances to put the game to bed but they couldn't find a way past Tokurtayev and at the other end another goalkeeping error allowed Kozo in to break Oman's heart. These teams despair is Indonesia's joy as they claim the final qualifying spot for the round of 16.