Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
With the AFC U23 Championship edging ever closer, join the-afc.com as we continue our look at the teams who will be vying for honours in Qatar, at a tournament that also doubles as the qualifiers for the men’s football tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games.
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan sealed their place at the 2013 AFC U23 Championship as the fifth ranked of the five best runners-up in the group phase, with their record in Group E of the qualifiers proving just enough to qualify them for Qatar.
The Uzbeks left it late to see off India and make a winning start to their qualifying campaign, with Igor Sergeev breaking the deadlock in the 87th minute before skipper Vladimir Kozak added the surety of a second two minutes into stoppage time.
This was followed by a more straightforward win over Bangladesh with all their goals in the 4-0 triumph over the qualifying Group E hosts coming in the first-half at the Bangabandhu National Stadium and while a 2-1 loss at the hands of Syria in their final match was a disappointment it didn’t derail their chances of another shot at glory having failed to make it out of the group phase in the inaugural tournament in Oman.
Things started well enough at the then AFC U-22 Championship, which took place in the Gulf Sultanate two years ago, when two stoppage-time goals saw the Uzbeks snatch victory from the jaws of defeat but their 2-1 win over China was followed by defeats to eventual champions Iraq - who they will renew acquaintances with in Group C of Qatar 2016 - and beaten finalists Saudi Arabia.
Sergeev was on target in the opening win over China and the Uzbeks will be hoping their star striker can continue the fine form he has shown for the senior national team, with the 22-year-old having found the four times in six 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying matches.
Uzbekistan’s Group C Fixtures
January 13: Uzbekistan v Korea Republic (Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 16: Uzbekistan v Iraq (Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 19: Uzbekistan v Yemen (Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)