ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN v UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan’s 3-1 win over Turkmenistan was cause for celebration for Avaz Maksumov’s side, as they secured safe passage to the knockout stage, but the head coach will surely rue the chaotic series of events that occurred in the final moments.

With goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova already having been shown a red card in the first half, replacement shot-stopper Maftna Jonimqulova was disastrously also given her marching orders for handling the ball outside the penalty area just two seconds before full time.

It means Uzbekistan must now face reigning champions Iran, who scored 14 goals in their first match, without their top two goalkeepers, and Maksumov conceded he may need to alter his approach.

Kenichiro Kogure’s side were rarely troubled as they piled on five first half goals, before adding eight more in the second 20 minutes, to join China PR in advancing to Wednesday’s quarter-finals.

Eri Wakabayshi and Anna Amishiro scored hat-tricks as the 2015 finalists’ precise passing and off-the-ball movement left their inexperienced opponents chasing shadows.

Bahrain were under pressure from the get-go, taking up deep positions as their opponents probed for a way through their defence and eventually took the lead when Wakabayashi was teed up for a back post tap-in by Junko Yokoyama.

Japan added a beauty of a second when Amishiro tricked her way past Deena before rifling the ball home in the 10th minute, and Bahrain could do nothing but watch seven minutes later when Wakabayashi finishing off a wonderful passing move involving Mika Eguchi and Misato Komura.

Ryo Egawa was the beneficiary of a somewhat fortuitous deflection in the build up to score in the 18th minute, before turning provider for Riho Katsumata two minutes later to give Japan a deserved 5-0 half-time lead.

Avaz Maksumov's charges knew that a win would surely secure a place in the final eight, but Turkmenistan were out to avenge their opening day 14-0 loss to Islamic Republic of Iran, and were notably more spirited in the opening minutes. 

Turkmenistan played defensively, slowly prodding for a counter-attack move, while Uzbekistan had the lion's share of possession in the first half and made numerous attempts with their quick through passes into the box but it all lacked a fine finish. 

Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova was replaced by Maftuna Jonimqulova in the 11th minute after her miscalculated clearance tackled Turkmenistan's forward.

However, their constant attacks finally paid dividends in the 17th minute when Zumratjon Nazarova intercepted a pass and slid the ball forward to Feruza Turdiboeva on the right flank, before passing it back to Nazarova for a close range effort to take the lead. 

Rushaniya Safina and Lyudmila Karachik formed quite a formidable duo for Uzbekistan, and just one minute later, the two surged down the middle with their quick passes and Safina, with her finishing touch made no mistake to double their lead going into the half-time break.

As expected from the title holders, Iran showed their prowess from the first blow of the whistle with Fatemeh Etedadi finding the back of the net just seven seconds into the game, courtesy of Fareshteh Karimi's pass into the box.

After conceding the early goal, Turkmenistan tried to play a more compact game, tightening their defences as Iran had free reign of the ball.

Kamil Mingazov's side showed moments of brilliance, pushing the Asian champions back into their half, but Iran eventually doubled their lead when Turkmenistan goalkeeper Malika Eminova blocked Fareshteh Khosravi's shot but the ball fell right in front of Fahimeh Zarei for a simple finish, before scoring her second of the night moments after the restart.