Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ras Al Khaimah: Uzbekistan got off to a flying start in the AFC U-19 Championship after convincingly defeating Vietnam 4-0 in their opening Group C encounter on Sunday.
The win put the Uzbeks top of the table after defending champions DPR Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by Jordan in the earlier match at the Emirates Stadium.
Striker Igor Sergeev scored twice and created one while defender Maksimlian Fomin and Timur Khakimov also registered their names on the scoresheet as Uzbekistan recorded a comfortable win.
The match presented a contrast in styles with Uzbekistan physical strength going up against the speed of the Vietnamese and it was the Uzbeks that dominated the match after an early scare when Cao Xuan Thang's angled drive went just wide of the post with just three minutes on the clock.
After twice coming close to breaking the deadlock the Uzbeks pressure finally paid off in the 28th minute courtesy of a powerful header from defender Fomin following Jamshid Iskanderov telling cross.
Vietnam were on the backfoot for the remainder of the first half and with the interval fast approaching Uzbekistan doubled their advantage in stoppage-time when defender Tohirjon Shamshitdinov crossed for Sergeev to head home the first of his brace in what was almost a carbon copy of the first goal.
The Uzbeks totally dominated the second-half – restricting Vietnam to just one effort on goal – but they had to wait until the 78th minute to get their third goal when Abbosbek Makhstaliev supplied a pinpoint cross for Sergeev to guide the ball past Vietnam keeper Le Van Nghia.
Sergeev then turned provider for Uzbekistan's fourth when he delivered a ball from the left for substitute Khakimov to complete the scoring in stoppage-time.