Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: Uzbekistan began their AFC U-19 Championship Group A qualifiers with a resounding 7-0 win over Bhutan on Friday, while host nation Bangladesh went second behind the Uzbeks thanks to their 2-0 defeat of Sri Lanka.
Uzbekistan were slow to get into their stride at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, but eventually took the lead through Husniddin Gofurov’s 42nd minute strike, an advantage that was doubled moments later thanks to a penalty from midfielder Sharof Mukhitdinov.
Jasur Abduraimov’s charges upped their game after the break however, as goals from Sanjar Kodirkulov and substitute Bobir Abdixolikov saw Uzbekistan secure a 4-0 lead with 70 minutes gone.
With the game well and truly beyond Bhutan, Abdixolikov doubled his tally on 80 minutes before Jakhongir Akhmadov and Nurillo Tukhtasinov put the seal on a comfortable victory for the Central Asian outfit.
In the day’s later match, Bangladesh were made to wait until the 67th minute until they breached a resilient Sri Lankan defence, Mannaf Rabby notching the opener much to the delight of the home crowd.
Midfielder Masuk Miah Zoni then calmed Bangladeshi nerves by converting an 83rd minute penalty to secure the win.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams).
If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (6th) second-placed team will qualify for the final competition.