Saudi Arabia progress to final as Uzbekistan pay for profligacy

In a keenly-contested semi-final at the Rajamangala Stadium, it was the Uzbeks who created the better opportunities but were wasteful in front of goal, and were ultimately punished for their profligacy as Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored with three minutes remaining to win it for Saudi Arabia.

The result means that the Saudi Arabians are the first team through to Sunday's final while Uzbekistan have failed in their quest to retain the title they won back in 2018, although they can still seal their own berth at the Olympics by winning Saturday's third-place playoff against either Australia or Korea Republic.

Yet, the Uzbeks only have themselves to blame after missing a host of gilt-edged opportunities that should have seen them at least reach the final for a second tournament running.

Their first real chance came after 12 minutes when an inventive over-the-top ball from Sanjar Kodirkulov released Bobir Abdixolikov, who sent a lob over the onrushing Mohammed Al-Yami but just could not guide it on target

Five minutes later, Abdixolikov seemed destined to break the deadlock when he pounced on a poor backpass by Saud Abdulhamid and charged down Al-Yami’s desperate attempt to clear the danger.

But with the goal gaping and the ball just a bit ahead of him, the Uzbekistan striker contrived to send the ball trickling wide of the near post.

Abdixolikov somehow failed to score with an unguarded goal to aim for.

Abdixolikov was causing all sorts of problems for the Saudi Arabia defense but his finishing continued to let him down nine minutes into the second half.

Jasurbek Yakhshiboev curled a lovely ball in from the right and Abdixolikov took it down on his chest brilliantly before doing well to hold off the advancement of Hassan Tombakti, only to send his shot straight at Al-Yami.

Having absorbed all that pressure, the stage was set for Saudi Arabia to snatch the win and they duly found the breakthrough with three minutes remaining - in fortuitous fashion no less.

A poor headed clearance by Khojiakbar Alijonov saw him send the ball right to the edge of his own area, where it was pounced on by Nasser Al-Omran

The Saudi Arabia midfielder unleashed a speculative effort that Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov looked to have covered only for the shot to take a crucial deflection of Al-Hamdan, who knew little about his intervention which ultimately proved crucial as the ball nestled into the back of the net.

In one final desperate bid to find an equalizer, Uzbekistan send Nematov up forward in the dying stages of the game and Saudi Arabia thought they had a second after hitting on the counter with Abdulrahman Ghareeb sending a looping shot into the unguarded goal, although the strike was correctly ruled out for offside.

Nonetheless, for the second game running after their 1-0 win over Thailand in the quarter-finals, Saudi Arabia did enough to ride their luck and keep alive their hopes of winning the AFC U23 Championship, safe in the knowledge that they at least already have the consolation of a place at the Olympic Games later this year.

SAUDI ARABIA: Mohammed Al-Yami, Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tombakti, Abdulbassit Hindi, Khaled Dubaish, Mukhtar Ali, Ali Al-Hassan (Nasser Al-Omran 80 '), Ayman Al-Khulaif (Hussain Al-Eisa 68'), Sami Al-Najei (Khalid Al-Ghannam 84 '), Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

UZBEKISTAN: Abduvakhid Nematov, Khojiakbar Alijonov, Islomjon Kobilov, Khusniddin Alikulov, Ilkhomjon Alianov, Azizjon Ganiev, Abdulla Abdullaev, Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, Oybek Bozorov (Nurillo Tukhtasinov 74 '), Sanjar 68 Mukov ').

Highlight

90 '+ 6

TIME OUT!!! U23 Saudi Arabia 1-0 U23 Uzbekistan !!!

U23 Saudi Arabia is the 2nd in the history of U23 Asia finals, and won the first ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

90 '+ 6

VAR !!! The goal was denied !!! U23 Saudi Arabia 1-0 U23 Uzbekistan! After referring to VAR, the referee Ryuji Sato did not recognize the goal for offside.

90 '+ 5

GOALL !!! U23 Saudi Arabia 2-0 U23 Uzbekistan !!! Corner taken by U23 Uzbekistan in a superficial corner, Saudi Arabia counterattacked quickly, Abdulrahman Ghareeb lobed the ball outside 30 meters into an empty net when goalkeeper Nematov came on the attack but could not keep up.

90 '+ 1

Uzbekistan U23 substitution. Sharof Mukhitdinov replaced Sanjar Kodirkulov.

88 '

Saudi Arabia got the fifth table in U23 Asia 2020. All took place in the second half. 4/5 goals were scored after 75 minutes.

87’

GOALLL !!! U23 Saudi Arabia 1-0 U23 Uzbekistan !!! Abdullah Al-Hamdan !!! Uzbekistan's defenders U23 were not good, Nasser Al Omran took advantage of a long shot, the ball touched Al-Hamdan teammates and changed the direction of the net.

Referees calculate the goal for Al-Hamdan. A lucky goal of the U23 striker Saudi Arabia.

83 '

U23 Saudi Arabia has a third change. Khalid Al-Ghannam replaced captain Sami Al-Najei.

80 '

Substitution, U23 Saudi Arabia. Nasser Al Omran replaced Ali Al-Hassan.

78 '

Azizjon Ganiev has an unsuccessful free kick, ignoring a situation that could endanger Saudi Arabia's goal.

76 '

Saud Abdulhamid receives a yellow card for a foul. The Uzbekistan U23 player is in pain, needing medical attention, causing the match to be interrupted.

74 '

Add another adjustment on the U23 side of Uzbekistan. Nurillo Tukhtasinov replaces Oybek Bozorov

70 '

U23 Saudi Arabia has a very nice combination. However, goalkeeper Nematov played awake, catching the ball just above the opponent's head.

69 '

With the recent adjustments, it can be seen that both teams want to resolve the match in the second half.

68 '

U23 Uzbekistan replaced the attacker. Bobir Abdixolikov gave way to Islom Kenjabaev.

68 '

U23 Saudi Arabia has a correction. Hussain Ahmed Al Issa came on for Ayman Al-Khulaif.

65 '

CHANCE !!! After a quick counterattack, the ball was returned and Ali Al-Hassan launched a very strong shot from a distance, going higher than the Uzbekistan U23 crossbar.

62 '

DANGER!!! Khojiakbar Alijonov invaded the penalty area, went down the crossbar and stretched in the middle, the ball touched the Saudi U23 player narrowly missed the post.

59 '

Ali Al-Hassan (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card.

55 '

Abdulla Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) is shown the yellow card.

54 '

MISSED! Yakhshiboev sent an exact pass from the right, Abdixolikov blocked the ball with his chest and then shot it close to the wall, but hit the goalkeeper Al Yami.

51 '

MISSED! U23 Saudi Arabia counterattack fast, Ghareeb has an empty ball in the box, but his kick goes over the crossbar.

An unfortunate miss situation.

51 '

Yakhshiboev decides to take a short corner. After that, his header did not reach the team.

48 '

Abdulbaset Al-Hindi receives a yellow card.

48 '

Yakhshiboev broke through and fell inside the penalty area of ​​Saudi Arabia U23, but the referee judged a foul outside the 16m50 round.

45 '+ 2

1st half ended! U23 Saudi Arabia 0-0 U23 Uzbekistan!

45 '

Headed by Hassan Al Tambakti after a corner, the ball is too high for Uzbekistan U23 goal.

45 '

Captain Ghareeb broke through in the Uzbekistan penalty area, but Saudi Arabia only had a corner.

43 '

CHANCE !!! Corner kick taken by U23 Saudi Arabia, the ball bounced off Mukhtar Ali's foot, but his 18-meter volley went incorrectly.

39 '

Abdulrahman Ghareeb has an effort at goal from 28 meters away.

34 '

The two sides slowed down. Over the past 5 minutes, no attacks have been made. The battle is going on.

Time to control the ball is almost equal. Uzbekistan U23 is only slightly better, with 50.9%.

28 'Alijanov invaded the penalty area from the left by-line, making a pass through the left foot like a shot, causing the ball to go inaccurate. U23 Uzbekistan gradually slowed down.

22 'DANGEROUS !!! Uzbekistan's U23 players made a reasonable swing and made a dangerous cross in front of the goal of U23 Saudi Arabia, but no one rushed in to finish.

19 'CHANCE !!! Abdulrahman Ghareeb made a technical move before the U23 penalty area in Uzbekistan, but his kick went slightly and straight into the position of goalkeeper Nematov.

17 ' MISSED!!!! 

A simple situation, but Saudi Arabia almost paid dearly. Defender Saud Abdulhamid returned the ball slightly, goalkeeper Mohammed Al Yami did not understand what Abdixolikov took advantage of the opportunity to lean in a narrow post.

16 'DANGEROUS!!! Sami Al-Najei flicked in the middle fine, Abdullah Al-Hamdan received the ball and made a move through the Uzbekistan U23 captain, but the corner kick went out.

twelfth'

CHANCE !!! Azizjon Ganiev takes a shot to break Saudi Arabia's defense, Bobir Abdixolikov escaped to make an incorrect pass.

11 '

No clear attack has been performed by players of both teams. Both sides focused on the defense quite effectively.

8'

The referee showed Islomjon Kobilov the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.

In the first 8 minutes, there were 3 times U23 Uzbekistan players were blown.

4 '

The match started at a low speed. However, the players of both teams moved to fill the void, and always argued quickly when losing the ball.

5:15pm

The game begins.

Preview:

Saudi Arabia are to face defending champions Uzbekistan in the first semifinal of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia defeated hosts Thailand 1-0 in their quarterfinal tie while Uzbekistan demolished United Arab Emirates (UAE) 5-1 in their last eight fixture to keep their title defense on track.

The other semifinal will witness Australia taking on Korea Republic.

Top two teams from each group progressed to the knockout stages of the fourth edition of the continental tournament. The third-place play-off will take place on January 25 while the final will take place at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on January 26.

Possible lineups:

U23 Saudi Arabia: Al Yami, Al Dubaysh, Hindi, Al Tambakti, Abdul Hamid, Ali, Al Hassan, Al Ghannam, Al Naji, Al Khulaif, Alhamddan

U23 Uzbekistan: Nematov, L. Alidjanov, Aliqulov, Kobilov, K.Alidjanov, Kodirkulov, Abdullayev, Ganiev, Yakhshibaev, Bozorov, Abdukhalikov

Prediction:  U23 Saudi Arabia 0-1 U23 Uzbekistan