Uzbekistan’s national team lost 2:3 to Russia in a friendly match at Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent after having led 2:0, and head coach Fabio Cannavaro said he takes responsibility for the substitutions and the team’s loss of control. The hosts opened the scoring through Viktor Melekhin’s own goal before Bekhruz Karimov doubled the advantage, but a brace from Nikolay Komlichenko and a goal by Aleksey Miranchuk turned the game in Russia’s favour. Speaking after the match, Cannavaro admitted that his side believed in victory too early and lost concentration as the game progressed.
Key Takeaways: Uzbekistan lost 2:3 to Russia at Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent after leading 2:0. Fabio Cannavaro accepted responsibility for the substitutions made around the 60th minute and for the team’s failure to hold its advantage. The match highlighted Uzbekistan’s difficulties in managing the closing stages and maintaining control against a strong opponent.
The friendly was an important test for Uzbekistan’s national team, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to assess tactical options, give younger players international minutes and evaluate the squad’s ability to handle different match scenarios. Russia, as a competitive opponent, took advantage of Uzbekistan’s loss of rhythm after a strong start. The hosts stopped controlling the game as effectively, made frequent passing errors and allowed the visitors to seize the initiative. The result also prompted questions about game management and the timing of changes, especially with defender Abdukodir Khusanov absent from the lineup.
Cannavaro stressed that he would not shift blame to the players who came off the bench. “If you are leading 2:0, make substitutions and end up losing 2:3 — this is my mistake, the coach’s mistake,” he said. The Italian specialist said the issue was less about the tactical system and more about a lack of experience and the ability to protect a lead. He also declined to link the defeat to Khusanov’s absence, saying he trusts the team’s young players and views such matches as valuable experience for the squad.
Uzbekistan’s coaching staff is now expected to review the closing period, the impact of the substitutions and the team’s decision-making while ahead. Future training camps and friendlies will show whether the lessons from the defeat are applied in practice. Cannavaro’s public acceptance of responsibility was framed as a professional step aimed at correcting mistakes rather than blaming individual players, with attention now turning to improving the team’s resilience in tight matches.
Source: podrobno.uz