Shenzhen: Iran beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in their final AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group C tie at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1 on Wednesday.
Iran, in winning all three group matches, will meet the runners-up of Group D in the quarter-finals while defending champions Uzbekistan will play the top team.
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With both teams having already qualified prior to their clash, Uzbekistan started without striker Muhammadali Urinboev while Iran kept Esteghlal FC midfielder Abolfazl Zamani, who scored a brace in their 6-0 win over Yemen, on the bench.
Iran had the lion’s share of possession early on, and had the first look at goal in the 19th minute when Yousef Mazraeh’s shot from just outside the box deflected off a defender and sailed over the bar.
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The Central Asian side tried again in the 38th minute, when Alireza Homaeifard’s cross set up Esmaeil Gholizadeh, who with only custodian Muhammadyusf Sobirov to beat, fumbled his attempt by shooting straight at the onrushing keeper.
Sobirov then got his hands on a header from Hesam Nafari from the ensuing corner when he saved the latter’s close-range attempt in a packed goalmouth.
Group C – MD3: Uzbekistan v Iran
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The Uzbekistan keeper, however, undid all his good work in the 52nd minute when he failed to hold Mazraeh’s stinging shot from outside the box and despite his frenzied attempts, could only watch as the ball bounced into the back of his net.
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There was more misery for Sobirov in the 64th minute when he brought down Abolfazl Moredi, with Gholizadeh duly converting the penalty.
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Urinboev made his appearance in the 69th minute, and made his presence felt 10 minutes later when half-volleyed the ball from the centre of the box past a diving Arsha Shakouri to pull one back for Uzbekistan.
Iran almost got their third in the 84th minute, when Pouria Shahrabadi dribbled a defender on the edge of the box and sent a blistering shot that bounced off the bar but it didn’t matter as they took the points.
MATCH STATS
| Uzbekistan | 1 | – | 2 | IR Iran |
| Uzbekistan 12 M. Sobirov GK 2 S. Khamidov DF 4 G’. Rizoqulov 57’ DF 5 A. To’lqunbekov 69’ DF 13 B. Jumatov DF 6 R. Khavrullaev MF 7 D. Tukhsanov MF 9 S. Saidnurullaev 69’ MF 17 O. Karimov 57’ MF 19 R. Fomin 68’ MF 23 A. Khaydarov FW Substitutes 3 M. Zokhidov 57’ 10 M. O’rinboyev 69’81’ 15L. Mirzayev 69’ 16M. Reimov 68’ 22A. Jumayev 57’ Manager-Farkhod Nishanov | Iran 1 Arsha Shakouri 84’ GK 2 Nima Andarz DF 3 Hesam Nafari DF 13 Ali Hassani 22’ DF 4 Alireza Homaeifard DF 6 Samir Hoboobati 46’ MF 8 Amir Razzaghinia MF 14 Abbas Kahrizi 55’ MF 20 Yousef Mazraeh 25’52’70’ MF 7 Esmaeil Gholizadeh 66’70’ FW 21 Abolfazl Moredi 90+5’ FW Substitutes 15 Mobin Dehghan 55’ 17 M. Dindar 46’ 18 Abolfazl Zoleikhaei 90+5’ 19 P. Shahrabadi 70’ 23 Sina Moazemitabar 70’ Manager-Hossein Abdi |