In the second round of the group stage of the Asian Cup, the Kyrgyz team conceded the first goal, but soon equalized thanks to a magnificent strike from Marlen Murzakhmatov. However, at the end of the match, the ball, deflecting off a defender's leg, ended up in the net of Kurmanbek Nurlanbekov.
This defeat marked the second consecutive loss for the Kyrgyz national team, and some players, unable to hold back their tears, fell to the ground. Two losses almost eliminate the team's chances of advancing from the group, although sometimes the situation can change.
That same evening, another match in the group took place, where Saudi Arabia, leading against Jordan, unexpectedly suffered a defeat.
After two rounds in Group A, all four teams still have chances to advance to the playoffs, including Kyrgyzstan, which has yet to earn a single point. There is also a possibility of elimination from the tournament for all teams, even Vietnam, which has won both of its matches and has 6 points.
Currently, Vietnam leads the group with 6 points, followed by Jordan and Saudi Arabia, each with 3 points. Kyrgyzstan sits at the bottom with zero points in the "points earned" column.
The final matches in this group are scheduled for January 12. Kyrgyzstan will face Jordan, while Saudi Arabia will play against Vietnam.
The situation for the Kyrgyz national team is challenging, but mathematically, the chances of advancing to the quarter-finals still exist after two defeats.
In the last match of the group stage, the Kyrgyz team must secure a victory over the Jordanians by a margin of at least two goals (for example, 2:0, 3:0, or 4:2). Any other outcome will eliminate the team's chances of continuing in the tournament.
Additionally, in a parallel match, Vietnam must win against Saudi Arabia.
If everything goes as planned, Kyrgyzstan will earn 3 points and tie with Jordan and Saudi Arabia on this metric. In the event of a points tie, the decisive factor will be the goal difference, and in this case, it will be important for Kyrgyzstan to win against Jordan by a two-goal margin.
If this scenario unfolds, the Kyrgyz could finish second in Group A and advance to the playoffs, despite a rocky start to the tournament.
It should be noted that the matches of the final round will take place simultaneously, so teams will not be able to rely on the results of other games.
