Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Uzbekistan ensured a successful opening to their AFC U-19 Championship campaign with a 3-1 victory over Indonesia in the Group B opener at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium on Friday.
Semi-finalists in 2012, the Central Asians took control of the game from the 17th minute with a Dostonbek Khamdamov goal before Zabikhillo Urinboev doubled the lead from the penalty spot five minutes later to increase the advantage.
Indonesia, making their first appearance in the tournament since 2004, managed to give Uzbekistan some discomfort by opening the second half scoring through Paulo Sitanggang on 58 minutes but an Otabek Shukurov strike three minutes from time wrapped up the game for Uzbekistan.
"Of course it is very nice to win our first matchup, especially after Iran and Japan, both favourites for their groups, lost yesterday. We controlled the first half, scored two and hoped to save some energy for the next game," said Uzbekistan coach Ravshan Khaydarov.
"When you're two-nil up at half-time up you think you can relax and that is why we conceded, I was very nervous but luckily the Indonesian goal woke the players up and I was very happy to finish with a win."
Uzbekistan took the lead on 17 minutes when Firdavs Abdusalimov found himself alone with the ball on the left hand side of the 18-yard box and played in Khamdamov, arriving late at the far post, to slot home the game's opener.
Their second came as Khurshid Giyosov galloped down the right before he was tripped by Indonesian defender Fatchu Rochman as he attempted to cut back and into the box. The referee took a moment's hesitation to assess the scene before pointing to the spot.
Calm and collected; Urinboev slotted the ball to the diving keeper's right, who guessed correctly but couldn't prevent the well-placed kick from bulging the net.
Indonesia had several tame shots on target in the first half but a set-play routine from a 36th minute corner provided their best opportunity.
Dinan Javier managed to leap above the much taller Uzbekistan defence but ultimately not high enough as he failed to get over the ball which flew off his forehead and high over the crossbar.
Following the interval, second-half substitute Sitanggang found himself in space 30 yards out but in front of goal in the 58th minute, and as the ball was passed across him he struck a shot that caught the Uzbekistan goalkeeper Dilshod Khamraev off-guard to bring Indonesia back into the game at 2-1.
Indonesia kept looking for a way to draw level but Shukurov made an Uzbekistan victory all but certain when with just three minutes left on the clock he beat keeper Ravi Murdianto from the top of the semi-circle.
Despite the defeat, Indonesia coach Indra Syafri was keen to take away a positive message from the match.
"The early goals came from our mistakes on the pitch, they were cheap goals but I appreciate the players' effort on the field," said Syafri.
"It took the first 25 minutes for our team to get comfortable, once we hit that point our play was consistent and our performance positive, the impact Paulo brought to the game especially so."