Uzbekistan’s Almalyk FC were knocked out of AFC Futsal Club Championship after 'shameful' display

Uzbekistan’s Almalyk FC finished their participation in the AFC Futsal Club Championship Vietnam 2017 as Chonburi Bluewave brushed Uzbek side 5-0 to take top spot in Group D, setting up a tantalising encounter with Shriker Osaka in the last eight.

After registering the biggest win of the competition in the 9-0 triumph over Bank of Beirut, the pressure was on for Chonburi to showcase their prowess once again and the Thai side did not disappoint as they took the lead after just 45 seconds. Rudimar Venancio reacted quickly to intercept from Irsaliev Dilshod before finding Kritsada Wongkaeo, who sidestepped the keeper before finishing neatly.

Chonburi came close to increasing their lead in the fifth minute, Jetsada Chudech doing brilliantly to find an unmarked Apiwat Chaemcharoen with just the keeper to beat, but the forward failed to connect with any real venom.

With qualification for the quarter-finals well within their grasp, Chonburi head coach Rakphol Sainetgnam decided to rest his stars, deploying only sporadically last year’s top-scorer Jirawat Sornwichian and two-time FIFA Futsal World Cup Goal of the Tournament winner Suphawut Thueanklang.

While his reinforcements gave their coach much to ponder over, underlining once again the depth and strength in the Chonburi side, the changes would impact the rhythm of the match with neither side able to dictate the tempo.

The Uzbekistan side were fortunate to escape in the closing stages of the half when custodian Katawut Hankampa launched a long-range effort from his goal, attempting to profit from the Almalyk power play, but missed the mark by centimetres.

Almalyk came out of the break a completely different side from the first half, determined to show they were no pushovers, and were nearly rewarded when Konstantin Sviridov’s free-kick found Jamoliddin Sharipov at the Chonburi far post but the forward's effort missed by a whisker.

Sviridov was in the mix once again just moments later, this time his cross-shot finding Artur Yunusov whose back-heel forced a strong reaction from Katawut. It was all one-way traffic in favour of the underdogs with Katawut having to rescue his side yet again, this time hoisting over Sirojiddin Makhmudov’s powerful effort five minutes into the second half.

Alas, Rakphol would return his big guns to the fray and within moments, Suphawut got on the score sheet after a defensive error by Dilshod with six minutes remaining. Poacher Suphawut then turned provider, finding Ronnachai Jungwongsuk for an easy finish after Almalyk’s power play backfired.

Chonburi then made it four two minutes later, after Sorasak Phoonjungreed did brilliantly to carry the Almalyk defence with his surging run before relaying the ball back for Peerapat Kaewwilai to pick his spot.

Apiwat Chaemcharoen added another for Chonburi in the closing seconds, wrapping a dominant Group D performance by the Thais who remain the only team in the competition yet to concede a goal.