The win follows earlier successes against fellow Thailand 2020 participants Iraq, who Uzbekistan beat 4-2 and 3-1 in a pair of friendlies in Sharjah last week.

Ljubinko Drulovic’s side also beat two Emirati club sides – Al Arabi and Al Hamriyah – taking theit tally to five consecutive wins and 18 goals scored in the last two and a half weeks.

Ahead of Wednesday’s opening matches, when Iraq face Australia and Thailand take on Bahrain, join the-AFC.com as we begin our detailed look at the teams vying for Continental glory across four venues in Thailand.

The top two sides in Group A will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the tournament’s top three finishers will earn places at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Group B contenders, Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Syria, will kick off their campaigns in Bangkok on January 9, but before the teams cross paths, join the-AFC.com as we explore how they got here.

The top two sides in Group B will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the tournament’s top three finishers will earn places at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Each referee will be accompanied by two assistant referees, and receive support from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which is set to make its full tournament debut across all three cities in Thailand - Bangkok, Songkhla and Buriram.

The referees will be playing various roles throughout the tournament that includes VAR and Assistant VAR appointments. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF MATCH OFFICIALS

Three editions of the AFC U23 Championship have come and gone and Australia, one of the heavyweights of the Continental game, are yet to better their quarter-final appearance since the inaugural tournament in Oman.

Indeed, when Olympic qualification was on the line at the 2016 tournament two years later, things got worse: they were unable to progress from the Group Stage.

Despite a record at senior level that marks them out amongst the leaders of the continental game, the Iranians travel to Thailand with their eyes fixed on securing one of the three tickets for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Central Asian nation has not qualified for the Olympiad since featuring in Munich in 1972 and Estili concedes that fact brings with it added scrutiny on him and his players.

A total 368 budding stars will carry the hopes of their nations in the race for Continental glory.

Also at stake in the fourth edition of the AFC U23 Championship will be three spots to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with hosts Japan already assured of their berth.