As the 2022 World Championship cycle in Qatar drew near, attention focused on the host nation’s preparations and the international friendlies that framed the lead‑up. On November 20, the task for Qatar’s national team was to face Ecuador in a pivotal showcase, while elsewhere in Europe and Asia, teams navigated injuries, tactical shifts, and the realities of a demanding schedule. In Russia, the national squad, under the guidance of head coach Valery Kartapin, continued its Asia tour, kicking off a series of matches in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan that tested the depth of the squad and the future prospects of the program.
After a goalless draw against Tajikistan in Dushanbe, the Russian team moved on to Tashkent, confronting an artificial turf that drew criticism from several players. The head coach opted for an experimental lineup into a field that some players felt compromised their traditional style, leveraging youth and energy to gauge potential developmental paths. Sergei Pinyaev, a Wings participant, marked a notable milestone by debuting for the national team, breaking a long-standing record held by Igor Akinfeev and becoming the youngest player to wear the national jersey. The coach had promised two distinct lineups for the Tajikistan and Uzbekistan fixtures, and he delivered on that pledge by deploying a drastically different XI from the opening clash in Dushanbe.
Among the lineup, experienced hands still appeared, with Georgiy Jikia captaining the side. The full starting eleven included Anton Shunin in goal, Jikia and a back line featuring Alexander Silyanov, Ruslan Litvinov, and Vyacheslav Karavaev. In midfield, Daler Kuzyaev, Dmitry Barinov, Daniil Fomin, Arsen Zakharyan, and Andrey Mostovoy held the playmaking and tempo, while Alexander Sobolev led the attack from the front.
Uzbekistan’s squad presented a familiar mix of seasoned internationals and rising talents. Utkir Yusupov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Umar Eshmurodov, Khusniddin Alikulov, Sherzod Nasrullaev, Farrukh Saifiyev, Odiljon Khamrobekov, Otabek Shukurov, Azizbek Turgunboev, Khozhimat Erkinov, and Eldor Shomurodov formed the visiting lineup. Shomurodov, who had spent time in Rostov under Karpin’s earlier stewardship, spoke about the Russian manager with respect, illustrating the crosscurrents of history and strategy that marked this fixture.
The match unfolded at Pakhtakor Stadium, a venue with a 35,000‑seat capacity. While the stands did not fill completely, a dedicated bloc of Russian supporters created a tangible atmosphere, with approximately 500 fans on hand, according to the RFU press service. The opening moments saw quick exchanges as Sobolev found space near the box and Shomurodov pressed from the Uzbek side. Early attempts produced little danger, but the pace and intensity suggested a contest more technical than physical, with both sides probing the other’s defensive lines and looking for the decisive pass that would unlock a back line.
In the earliest minutes, Russia sought to press from the right under Barinov’s guidance, while Uzbek attackers sought counters behind the Russian defense. Sobolev again became a focal point, yet the finishing touch eluded the visitors as Shunin remained vigilant. Shomurodov carried momentum for Uzbekistan, testing the Russians with a sharp foray that required a quick reaction from the defense, and Shunin answered with a timely denial as the ball found its way to a corner. The opening stage did not yield a goal, but it did reveal a tactical battle: Russia tried to dominate the tempo, while Uzbekistan looked to exploit gaps through rapid transitions.
The hosts pressed more insistently after the first quarter of the game, creating pressure near the goal and forcing several corner kicks. Yet the finishing moves remained off target. Some passages of play exposed the fragility of the pitch, with bald patches affecting ball bounce and player balance, a factor both teams had to manage as the clock ticked on. The Uzbek side sought to sustain attacks through patient ball movement, but their final passes often found reluctant or overwhelmed Russian defenders instead of the target in the box.
Approaching the half hour, Uzbekistan created a dangerous sequence after a corner, with Shomurodov advancing and the ball finding Barinov blocking the route. Eldor Shomurodov then pressed into the box, but Shunin again kept his goal intact as the ball was shepherded to safety. The Russians responded with increasing pressure, winning a string of corners that produced little direct threat but demonstrated a commitment to controlling the field in the middle third. By the end of the first half, both sides had offered glimpses of quality but remained locked in a goalless equilibrium. The best moment of the period came when Shomurodov’s run ended with a powerful shot that skipped just wide of Shunin’s post, leaving the goalkeeper no chance but to watch as the ball narrowly missed the target.
At halftime, the teams retained their starting lineups. The second period opened with Uzbekistan taking the initiative, while Russia adjusted to a slightly more defensive posture, content to absorb pressure and strike on the counter. As play resumed, Sobolev created a rare gap in the Uzbek defense and delivered a through ball that found Mostovoy, who unleashed a shot that glanced off a defender’s leg and narrowly missed the goal. Uzbekistan substituted Shomurodov and Erkinov in an attempt to spark renewed attacking energy, while Russia rotated personnel to maintain stamina and focus. The tactical switch paid off as the match began to tilt in Russia’s favor, with Sobolev driving a sequence that culminated in a shot narrowly missing the target and a renewed sense of urgency in the visitors’ play.
The 55th minute produced a moment of real threat as Sobolev intercepted, found Mostovoy, and the latter threaded a precise pass to the onrushing forward. Mostovoy’s strike was saved at point blank by the Uzbek goalkeeper, and the rebound failed to convert for Russia. Despite increased pressure, the goal remained elusive for both sides as the contest entered an even more intense phase. In the ensuing minutes, yellow cards appeared as tensions rose, with Sobolev receiving a caution for a late challenge on Alikulov, and substitutions followed as both coaches sought to alter the dynamic of the game.
With the pace intensifying, Russia introduced Komlichenko and Pinyaev to bolster the attack, replacing Sobolev and Zakharyan with roughly a quarter of the match remaining. Uzbekistan pressed again as the clock wound down, but Russia’s defense held firm, with Shunin making several vital interventions. A late surge from Uzbekistan produced a brief moment of danger as a free kick tested the Russian wall, and in another sequence a corner was repelled with disciplined defending. Then, as the game neared its end, both teams pressed for a decisive moment, yet neither side could find the edge they sought.
Into stoppage time, a tense episode near the penalty area involved Kuzyaev challenging Shukurov, but referee calls remained conservative. The Uzbek attack persisted but could not breach the Russian defense, and Shunin stood tall to close the door on a potential late winner. In the end, the match finished in a stalemate, a goalless draw that reflected a balanced contest in which both sides demonstrated resilience, tactical awareness, and the stubbornness that defines international friendlies on a taxing tour. For Russia, the result added another layer to their Asian journey, highlighting strengths to build on and areas to refine ahead of the next fixtures on the road to the global stage.