Uzbekistan thrashed India and topped Group B
The national team of Uzbekistan defeated India with a score of 4:0 and took first place in Group B of the U20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Uzbekistan confidently beat India and took the lead in Group B
The Uzbekistan national team achieved a landslide victory over India — 4-0 — and rose to first place in Group B of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 qualifiers. After two rounds, the Uzbek team has the maximum number of points, and in Sunday's match against Syria, a win or a draw will be enough for them to break through to the final stage of the tournament.
The match between India and Uzbekistan was dominated by the Uzbek team from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the score was opened only in the 29th minute. Ulugbek Maratov was the first to reach the ball after a scramble near the Indian goal and sent it into the net from close range.
A few minutes later, Kuvanyshbek Saydakiev could have increased the lead, but shot slightly to the left of the post. In the 34th minute, Uzbekistan still scored the second goal. Kuvonchbek Abraev accurately executed a free kick from about 23 meters, sending the ball past Suraj Singh, who rushed to intercept.
Before the break, the Indian goalkeeper saved his team once again, tipping a curling shot by Abraev from outside the penalty area over the crossbar with his fingertips.
After the resumption of the game, Uzbekistan continued to create chances. In the 65th minute, Abraev volleyed from the right flank, forcing Singh to step into the game again.
Two minutes later, the Uzbek team's lead became even larger. Shorakhim Shorakhmedov took advantage of an opponent's mistake on the right flank, beat a defender with a feint, and sent the ball into the upper left corner with a powerful shot — 3-0.
The final score was set in the 90th minute. Nurbek Sersenbaev ran behind the defenders and shot past Suraj Singh with a single touch.
The 4-0 victory put Uzbekistan in first place in Group B. Now, the team only needs to avoid defeat against Syria on Sunday to guarantee themselves a ticket to the final stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025.
In another group match, Syria defeated Bangladesh 3-0 and kept their chances of advancing to the next stage alive. The Syrian team scored their first three points in the tournament and will now play Uzbekistan. Bangladesh will face India in the final match.
Syria opened the score in the game against Bangladesh a minute before the end of the first half. Alam Mamo received a pass from Abdullah Al Najjar and sent the ball into the right corner of the goal from the penalty line.
Before that, Al Najjar had threatened the Bangladesh goal twice. In the 17th minute, his close-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Raj Chowdhury, and five minutes later, the ball went wide of the post after a shot by the Syrian forward. Bangladesh responded with a long-range shot by captain Abdul Fahim in the 37th minute, but the ball went wide of the goal.
In the first-half stoppage time, Syria doubled their lead. Marios Al Cherek broke into the penalty area through the center and shot past Chowdhury.
After the break, the Syrians continued to attack. In the 77th minute, Chowdhury saved a curling shot by Majd Almeri, and three minutes later, he saved the team again, coming out to meet Al Hasan Hasan.
In the 90th minute, Al Najjar set the final score. He executed a long-range free kick, sending the ball low into the goal through the Bangladesh defense.