It was a meeting between familiar foes, with the two sides having met in the semi-finals of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship in Thailand, where Saudi Arabia emerged 1-0 victors to snatch a Tokyo Olympics spot. 

Saudi Arabia’s new generation dominated possession in the opening minutes, but Uzbekistan side were also a force to be reckoned with as they looked to rack up experience before hosting the tournament next year. 

Saudi Arabia eventually broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Hamed Abdullah Alghamdi let loose an unstoppable strike that slipped past goalkeeper Vladmir Nazarov’s fingertips and into the back of the net. 

Determined to go into the break on equal terms, Uzbekistan got their coveted equaliser moments before the half-time whistle, when Otabek Jurakuziyev converted Hojimat Eriknov’s cross into the box. 

Saudi Arabia, the 2020 runners-up, were in fine form as they restored their lead just two minutes into the second half when Abdulmohsen Alqahtani moved on Abdullah Alhamddan’s through pass before slotting past Nazarov with a fine finish. 

Uzbekistan quickly switched gears and began pushing Saudi Arabia into a more defensive formation, and got their golden opportunity in the 79th minute through a penalty after Jehad Thikri’s foul on substitute Ulugbek Khoshimov, and captain Jasurbek Jaloliddinov made no mistake to make it 2-2.