The ball flew arching towards the nets when suddenly a pair of Uzbek defenders threw themselves in to deflect it mid-flight, but the ball sliced right past them.
Trajectory bending, it flew toward Alisher, who launched his full length across the goal with an outstretched arm. His fingers brushed only air as the ball whizzed past his fingertips and passed just off the target, missing the goalpost by mere inches before slamming off the advertising boards.
This time, the Uzbek fans erupted into a thunderous roar of relief, while a suffocating silence fell over the Japanese supporters, Keiichi biting his nails down to the quick.
Koujin let out a guttural roar of absolute frustration, violently kicking the turf before turning on his heel and sprinting straight back into position…
With the ball now resting on the edge of the six-yard box, Alisher struck it high and deep downfield.
Tracking its path, an Uzbek midfielder leaped to head it further into the wide space of the left flank.
