AUSTRALIA used all their defensive reserve as Scott Chipperfield's 26th-minute header sealed a hard-earned World Cup qualifying victory over Uzbekistan at the Pakhtakor Stadium.
For Pim Verbeek's side, it was an excellent start to their Group Two campaign as they condemned Uzbekistan to their second consecutive defeat following the surprise 3-0 loss in Qatar.
Australia were first to threaten when the ball fell to Brett Emerton after his attempted pass to Chipperfield was blocked, but the Blackburn Rovers defender's first-time shot dipped narrowly over the bar.
However, the Socceroos did break the deadlock after 26 minutes. Luke Wilkshire rode a challenge down the right and his cross from the byline was met by an unmarked Chipperfield, whose downward header beat the scrambling Ignatiy Nesterov.
Uzbekistan almost hit back after 42 minutes when Ulugbek Bakaev beat goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to Server Djeparov's inswinging corner but the striker's header hit Emerton a yard out.
Bakaev then managed to pounce on the loose ball but fired over the bar on the turn from six yards.
The hosts were almost made to pay on the stroke of half-time when Mark Bresciano raced clear but with just Nesterov to beat, he smashed a left-foot shot woefully wide.
Wilkshire cleared off the line after 53 minutes before Djeparov's quickly-taken free-kick found Maksim Shatskikh in the box, but a heavy first touch saw the opportunity lost and the striker's shot on the turn was easily held by Schwarzer.
Harry Kewell then played in David Carney with 15 minutes remaining but the substitute combined with Holman to make a complete hash of a two-against-one situation.
Uzbekistan nearly snatched an injury-time equaliser but substitute Timur Kapadze's flick-on just eluded Shatskikh's outstretched leg to sum up a frustrating evening for Rauf Inileev's men.
Australia were first to threaten when the ball fell to Brett Emerton after his attempted pass to Chipperfield was blocked, but the Blackburn Rovers defender's first-time shot dipped narrowly over the bar.
However, the Socceroos did break the deadlock after 26 minutes. Luke Wilkshire rode a challenge down the right and his cross from the byline was met by an unmarked Chipperfield, whose downward header beat the scrambling Ignatiy Nesterov.
Uzbekistan almost hit back after 42 minutes when Ulugbek Bakaev beat goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to Server Djeparov's inswinging corner but the striker's header hit Emerton a yard out.
Bakaev then managed to pounce on the loose ball but fired over the bar on the turn from six yards.
The hosts were almost made to pay on the stroke of half-time when Mark Bresciano raced clear but with just Nesterov to beat, he smashed a left-foot shot woefully wide.
Wilkshire cleared off the line after 53 minutes before Djeparov's quickly-taken free-kick found Maksim Shatskikh in the box, but a heavy first touch saw the opportunity lost and the striker's shot on the turn was easily held by Schwarzer.
Harry Kewell then played in David Carney with 15 minutes remaining but the substitute combined with Holman to make a complete hash of a two-against-one situation.
Uzbekistan nearly snatched an injury-time equaliser but substitute Timur Kapadze's flick-on just eluded Shatskikh's outstretched leg to sum up a frustrating evening for Rauf Inileev's men.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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