TASHKENT - Two goals each for Alexander Geynrikh and Maxim Shatskikh helped steer Uzbekistan, quarter-finalists at the 2004 Asian Cup, to a comfortable 5-0 win over Bangladesh in AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualifying Group F in Tashkent on Wednesday evening.
The game was the first for the former Soviet republic under ex-Cameroon national team coach Valeri Nepomniatchi, who took over the role one month ago after the departure of Englishman Bobby Houghton.
The Russian coach, however, was not the only man making his debut on Wednesday evening as 19-year-old CSKA Moscow defender Vitaliy Denisov won his first cap for Uzbekistan, while it was also a celebratory evening for Shatskikh, who received his Uzbek Player of the Year Award.
But the real hero of the evening was Geynrikh, who not only scored twice but played a major role in another two of Uzbekistan's five-goal haul against the Bangladeshis.
The Uzbeks took the lead after just nine minutes when Shatskikh sent the ball behind the Bangladesh defence, creating a chance for Anvar Soliev.
Bangladesh goalkeeper Aminul Hoque denied the Pakhtakor striker but, after sustaining a head injury, was unable to do anything to stop Geynrikh's effort into the empty goal.
Hoque left the field soon after and, with the Bangladeshis already missing Argentine coach Diego Cruciani, the visitors and substitute goalkeeper Biplop Bhattacharjee only managed to keep the home side out for another 12 minutes.
Bahrain referee Abdulhameed Ebrahim pointed to the penalty spot after defender Motiur Munna was adjudged to have handled Denisov's cross and Server Jeparov slotted home to give the Uzbeks a two-goal lead.
Ten minutes before the interval, Shatskikh hammered home following Geynrikh's corner and, six minutes after the restart, the Torpedo Moscow striker was back on the score sheet, the striker latching on to Timur Kapadze's defence-splitting pass before placing the ball in the right corner.
A second yellow card for Jeparov saw the penalty taker exit the game 18 minutes from time, but his expulsion did little to dampen the spirits of the Uzbeks, who increased their advantage before time was up.
With 83 minutes on the clock, Dynamo Kiev striker Shatskikh claimed his second and Uzbekistan's fifth when he dribbled past two defenders before slotting the ball past Bhattacharjee.
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