Uzbekistan’s youth football team triumphs over Saudi Arabia 2:0 — Daryo News

Uzbekistan’s youth football team emerged victorious against Saudi Arabia, securing a coveted spot in the semi-finals of the Asian U23 Football Championship in a match held on April 26. The much-awaited tournament, which will take place in Qatar from April 15 to May 3, witnessed Uzbekistan’s remarkable performance as they defeated their Saudi counterparts with a final score of 2:0.

The match unfolded when Uzbekistan seized the initiative during extra time in the first half (45+2′). Capitalizing on an opponent’s defensive mistake, striker Khusayin Norchaev expertly penetrated the penalty area and scored a goal, putting Uzbekistan ahead. Building on this momentum, Uzbek striker Ruslanbek Zhiyanov demonstrated his prowess in the 36th minute by executing an accurate shot from a challenging angle to further extend the team’s lead.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s efforts to stage a comeback, their hopes were dashed when player Ayman Salem received a second yellow card in the 70th minute, resulting in his expulsion from the field. Uzbekistan took advantage of the numerical advantage, with midfielder Umarali Rakhmonaliev sealing victory for Uzbekistan in the 84th minute by scoring the team’s second goal.

The victory over Saudi Arabia advanced the Uzbekistan U-23 team to the semi-finals of the tournament.

The Asian Under-23 Cup, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is a prestigious biennial football championship that serves as a qualifying event for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. With the tournament’s top three teams qualifying directly for the Olympic Games as representatives of Asia, and the fourth-placed team entering a play-off match, the stakes are high for the competing teams.

With 16 teams battling for supremacy on the football field, the tournament showcases the best young talent from across the continent. Saudi Arabia, the defending champions, faced a formidable challenge from Uzbekistan in this exciting encounter, underscoring the intense competition and each team’s determination to emerge victorious.