The Uzbekistan national football team defeated the Hong Kong team in the third round of the second qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup. The match, which took place on March 21 in Hong Kong, ended with a score of 0:2.
The scoring was opened already in the 4th minute. Forward Eldor Shomurodov, who returned to the national team after an injury (due to which he missed the Asian Cup), received a pass from the right flank and sent the ball into the goal. However, the referee considered that the Uzbek player handled the ball with his hand, which is why the goal was canceled.
In the 10th minute, Shomurodov made a header, but the goalkeeper made a save. In the 21st minute, the national team captain could have scored again, but the ball hit the post.
Shomurodov, who plays on loan at the Italian Cagliari, managed to score in the second half. In the 49th minute, Aziz Turgunboyev made a dash down the right flank and fired into the far corner, the ball was scored by Shomurodov.
In the 66th minute, defender Rustam Ashurmatov scored after a corner kick. A few minutes later he left the field due to an injury he received while scoring a goal.
The Uzbekistan team is in second place with 7 points, Iran is in the lead (7) thanks to a better goal difference. The teams of Hong Kong (1) and Turkmenistan (1) are in third and fourth places.
