Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: Jonona Halimova struck an 88th minute winner as Tajikistan beat Iraq 1-0 to claim a vital win in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier Group A opener on Monday.
The victory saw the Central Asians go second behind table-topping Jordan who had earlier thrashed Bahrain 6-0. The groups other two teams, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to play later today.
Tajikistan began their first-ever official senior match promisingly against an Iraqi side that was making its debut at a competitive international tournament.
Captain Natalia Sotnikova fired a fifth minute shot wide for the hosts, and, seconds later, Nasiba Olimova also narrowly missed the target.
Iraq, with Tiba Saleem and Sipal Shukur Rasheed combining well, responded through skipper Nadia Fadhil’s free-kick, but Tajikistan goalkeeper Sakhina Saidova proved more than equal to the task.
With Tajikistan slowly but surely beginning to take control of the game, only some resolute work from Khalat Asaad Mustafa kept the score level, the Iraqi custodian excelling to first deny the onrushing Halimova and then smothering Sotnikova’s shot and later free-kick ahead of the break.
Tajikistan began the second half in similar fashion, and came close to breaking the deadlock when Kholnazarova Sayramj’s fine strike from distance was turned away for a corner by the alert Asaad.
Iraq rallied after the hour mark, but it was still Tajikistan who were making all the running, Sotnikova going close with two free-kicks that brought the home fans to their feet.
The Tajikistan faithful were, however, to be rewarded in the 87th minute, when Halimova’s jinking run and shot flew past Asaad to seal three crucial points for Tajikistan and break Iraqi hearts.
Tajikistan will resume their campaign on Wednesday when they take on Bahrain, while Iraq are scheduled to face the Philippines on the same day.
Tajikistan head coach Bobokalonov Sulaymon:
"We made history with this match and this victory. We were prepared for this match. Now we move on and start concentrating on the next match. Jonona Halimova scored to secure the victory for us. She is a forward so of course she did score from that opportunity – we don’t need a forward who doesn’t score! Tomorrow we have training and we will watch our opponents’ matches, to identify their key players and their strengths and weaknesses.”
Jonona Halimova, Tajikistan goalscorer:
“We were prepared for a 0-0 result. It was a surprise for me that I ended up scoring the winning goal and it’s not really the type of goal I had practised before. It was a big moment for me, an emotional one, and I am still surprised but very happy.”
Iraq head coach Adil Qader:
“My team did their best in the match but football is not fair sometimes. It could have finished 0-0 and this was perhaps an easy match on paper. Now we will concentrate on getting a better result against the Philippines.”