Uzbekistan U23 advances to AFC U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals as group winner

Uzbekistan’s under-23 national team advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup after a convincing 2–0 victory over South Korea in the final round of Group C.

The tournament, which brings together under-23 national teams from across Asia, is currently being held in Saudi Arabia.

In the decisive group-stage match played on January 13, goals from Behruz Karimov and Saidumarkhon Saidnurullayev sealed the win for Uzbekistan. The result lifted Ravshan Haydarov’s side to seven points, securing first place in the group and a spot in the last eight.

Elsewhere in Group C, Lebanon pulled off a surprise 1–0 win over Iran. The outcome worked in South Korea’s favor, as they finished second on four points and also advanced to the knockout phase. Lebanon ended the group in third place with three points, while Iran finished bottom with two.

Uzbekistan will play its quarterfinal match on January 17. Their opponent will be determined from Group D, where China, Australia, Iraq, and Thailand are still battling for qualification, with all four teams retaining a chance of reaching the playoffs.

Sixteen national teams are competing in this edition of the U23 Asian Cup, divided into four groups. Unlike some previous tournaments, the current competition does not offer Olympic qualification places, which has led several teams to field less than full-strength squads.

First staged in 2013, the U23 Asian Cup has seen Japan emerge as the most successful nation, lifting the trophy twice, including at the most recent tournament. Iraq, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia have each won the title once.