2018 AFC U-23 Championship final

The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship Final was a football match that took place on 27 January 2018 at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre in Changzhou, China, to determine the winners of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. The match was contested by Vietnam and Uzbekistan, the winners of the semi-finals.

2018 AFC U-23 Championship Final
Event2018 AFC U-23 Championship
After extra time
Date27 January 2018
VenueChangzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Changzhou
Man of the MatchNguyễn Quang Hải
RefereeAhmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Attendance6,200
WeatherHeavy snow
0 °C (32 °F)
2016
2020

Uzbekistan beat Vietnam after extra time to claim their maiden U-23 Asian Cup title in what was considered to be the most exciting and special final in the history of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[1][2]

Route to the final

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Vietnam's participation to the final was considered as a surprise. Prior to the tournament, Vietnam had just participated in one edition, the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship where they finished bottom with total three defeats. Uzbekistan, being considered as a heavyweight, in their first two editions were not successful, being eliminated from the group stage both two editions and only claimed one victory in both tournaments.

Vietnam participated in the tournament together with South Korea, Australia and Syria. Being in a tough group, Vietnam was believed to make an early exit from the group stage. That was true in the first match, when Vietnam lost 1–2 to South Korea. However, Vietnam surprisingly bounced back and beat Australia 1–0, took vengeance for the defeat two years ago. After drawing Syria 0–0, Vietnam, together with Malaysia were the first two Southeast Asian teams to qualify into the knockout stage. Vietnam continued to surprise every predictions by defeating Iraq and Qatar on the penalty shootout after two thrillers, both ended 3–3 and 2–2 after 120 minutes each. Thus Vietnam had written history by becoming the first Southeast Asian team since 1999, to play in the final of an AFC tournament.[3] This was also Vietnam's first ever AFC final in their football history.[4]

Uzbekistan was placed in group A with host China, Qatar and Oman. Unlike Vietnam, Uzbekistan had more experience, and was expected to make at least the semi-finals. However, their hope was shattered by a humiliating 0–1 loss to Qatar, before they fought back and defeated China and Oman both with the score 1–0. When the Young White Wolves passed into the quarter-finals, the Uzbeks showed their strength by demolishing an Olympic-preparing squad and Asian champions Japan in a surprising 4–0 victory, before taking 120 minutes to defeat another East Asian giant, South Korea, 4–1.[5]

Vietnam Round Uzbekistan
Opponents Result Group stage Opponents Result
  South Korea 1–2 Match 1   Qatar 0–1
  Australia 1–0 Match 2   China 1–0
  Syria 0–0 Match 3   Oman 1–0
Group D runners-up
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   South Korea 3 7
2   Vietnam 3 4
3   Australia 3 3
4   Syria 3 2
Source: AFC
Final standings Group A runners-up
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   Qatar 3 9
2   Uzbekistan 3 6
3   China 3 3
4   Oman 3 0
Source: AFC
Opponents Result Knockout stage Opponents Result
  Iraq 3–3 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) Quarter-finals   Japan 4–0
  Qatar 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) Semi-finals   South Korea 4–1 (a.e.t.)

Match

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In decidedly snowy conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbekistan who controlled the early proceedings, and they duly took the lead on eight minutes when a poorly marked Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed home Khamdamov’s outswinging corner.

Uzbekistan continued to press after the breakthrough, as both a Javokhir Sidikov header and Khamdamov’s effort from 20 yards forced Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung into quick saves.

Despite struggling to fully impose themselves on the game, Vietnam briefly threatened to restore parity shortly after the half hour mark when Pham Xuan Manh’s excellent cross narrowly eluded the onrushing Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai.

However, after seeing Azizjon Ganiev fire narrowly over, Vietnam drew level on the stroke of half-time. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought down on the edge of the area and from the resulting free-kick, Quang Hai superbly curled the ball past the despairing dive of Botirali Ergashev to register his fifth goal of the tournament.

After a delayed restart to allow a layer of snow to be removed from the pitch, Uzbekistan were the first to shine once again, this time Khamdamov stinging the palms of Tien Dung courtesy of a 48th minute long-range drive.

Moments later, Tien Dung, the hero of Vietnam’s semi-final win over Iraq, reacted well to deny Sidikov from six yards, before Uzbekistan captain Zabikhillo Urinboev fizzed a shot wide of the left-hand upright on 70 minutes.

In the last meaningful action of normal time, Urinboev could, and very possibly should, have won the match for the Central Asians, but the striker inexplicably lashed his attempt from eight yards over the bar after Tien Dung had parried Akramjon Komilov’s cross into his path.

Urinboev’s miss was to matter little in the end though, as Sidorov applied an expert finish to Khamdamov's last gasp corner at the end of additional time to seal the title for Uzbekistan and break Vietnamese hearts on a day of high drama.

Final
Vietnam  1–2 (a.e.t.)  Uzbekistan
Nguyễn Quang Hải   41' Report Ashurmatov   8'
Sidorov   120'


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vietnam
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uzbekistan (first half)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uzbekistan (second half and extra time)
GK 1 Bùi Tiến Dũng I
CB 11 Đỗ Duy Mạnh   111'
CB 21 Trần Đình Trọng
CB 4 Bùi Tiến Dũng II
RM 2 Phạm Xuân Mạnh
CM 6 Lương Xuân Trường (c)
CM 8 Phạm Đức Huy   58'
LM 17 Vũ Văn Thanh
RF 19 Nguyễn Quang Hải
CF 10 Nguyễn Công Phượng   80'
LF 14 Phan Văn Đức   109'
Substitutions:
DF 20 Bùi Tiến Dụng   101'   80'
MF 7 Nguyễn Phong Hồng Duy   109'
FW 13 Hà Đức Chinh   58'
Manager:
  Park Hang-seo
 
GK 1 Botirali Ergashev
RB 5 Abbosjon Otakhonov   103'
CB 20 Dostonbek Tursunov   111'
CB 2 Rustamjon Ashurmatov
LB 4 Akramjon Komilov
CM 6 Azizjon Ganiev
CM 7 Odiljon Hamrobekov   35'
RW 8 Jasurbek Yakhshiboev   10'   45'
AM 10 Javokhir Sidikov   121'   118'
LW 17 Dostonbek Khamdamov
CF 9 Zabikhillo Urinboev (c)
Substitutions:
MF 16 Doniyorjon Narzullaev   45'
FW 22 Bobur Abdikholikov   103'
FW 11 Andrey Sidorov   118'
Manager:
Ravshan Khaydarov

Match rules:

Controversies

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Referee issues

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Prior to the final, the AFC had assigned Chinese referee Ma Ning to be in the final. However, only a few hours before the match, Ma was replaced by Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf.[6] The AFC did not explain their reasoning behind its decision, however, it was believed to have been from disputes between the host officials and the AFC over refereeing. Al-Kaf himself had also refereed in some previous AFC Champions League matches.[6]

Snowy conditions

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The match was played in heavy snow, under –2°C, which was relatively very cold, and it had been suggested that the match be delayed due to snowfall.[7] However, the AFC turned down the request and ordered the match to continue. After the end of the first half, the AFC asked that the snow be cleared from the field, and it took around thirty minutes to one hour until the match could be continued.[8] It was criticised in the aftermath of the match, both by Uzbek and Vietnamese fans, as both teams were not accustomed to play in such harsh weather conditions.[9]

Uzbekistan's team shirt

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In the first half, the Uzbeks were permitted by the AFC to wear all-white, despite heavy snow storms across the city. Because of this, not only the Vietnamese, but even the Uzbek players found themselves very hard to find and see their own players on the field.[1] To solve the problem, the Uzbeks had changed to blue uniforms in the second half of the match.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Paul Murphy (27 January 2018). "Vietnam suffer extra-time defeat to Uzbekistan in AFC U23 final". ESPN. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Brave Vietnam sunk by late goal in snow-hit final". The New Paper. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ Zulhilmi Zainal (23 January 2018). "Indomitable Vietnam set AFC U-23 final date thanks to Quang Hai's double". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Meet the Finalists: Vietnam". Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. ^ Gabriel Tan (23 January 2018). "AFC U-23 Championship: Uzbekistan see off Korea Republic to make final". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b Kiên Lê (30 January 2018). "Lộ lý do AFC loại Ma Ning, chọn trọng tài Oman bắt trận chung kết". Thể Thao 24h. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ^ Ha Do (27 January 2018). "Heavy snow threatens to delay Vietnam vs Uzbekistan U23 Asian Cup final". VnExpress. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  8. ^ Thanh Phong (27 January 2018). "Thua U23 Uzbekistan phút chót, U23 Việt Nam giành ngôi Á quân" (in Vietnamese). Goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  9. ^ Tiệp Nguyễn (28 January 2018). "Fan quốc tế khâm phục Việt Nam sau trận chung kết AFC U23" (in Vietnamese). Việt Times. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  10. ^ Viễn Đông (27 January 2018). "Chung kết U23 Việt Nam – Uzbekistan" (in Vietnamese). Voice of America. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
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