Uzbekistan at the AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan is one of the most successful teams in Asia, and the most successful team in Central Asia, having qualified for every AFC Asian Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union. With a rich history of competing in the tournament, Uzbekistan is often regarded as a top team and a rising contender for the Asian Cup title. Their best performance was a fourth place finish in the 2011 tournament.

Asian Cup record edit

AFC Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
  1956  1992 Part of USSR
  1996 Group stage 10th 3 1 0 2 3 6 2 1 0 1 5 4
  2000 Group stage 12th 3 0 1 2 2 14 4 4 0 0 16 2
  2004 Quarter-finals 6th 4 3 1 0 5 2 6 4 1 1 13 6
        2007 Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 0 2 10 4 6 3 2 1 14 4
  2011 Fourth place 4th 6 3 1 2 10 13 4 3 0 1 7 3
  2015 Quarter-finals 8th 4 2 0 2 5 5 6 3 2 1 10 4
  2019 Round of 16 10th 4 2 1 1 7 3 8 7 0 1 20 7
  2023 Quarter-finals 7th 5 2 3 0 7 3 11 8 0 3 27 9
  2027 To be determined 2 1 1 0 5 3
Total 8/8 Fourth place 33 15 7 11 49 50 47 33 5 9 112 39

1996 Asian Cup in the UAE edit

It was Uzbekistan's first ever appearance in the AFC Asian Cup, since the demise of USSR. In the tournament, although being regarded as the weakest team, Uzbekistan surprised all predictions by defeating China 2–0 right on their opening account. Uzbekistan, however, lost two remaining matches to Japan and Syria, thus had to end up in the group stage. Uzbekistan's maiden victory over China, however, remained as the biggest achievement for Uzbekistan before 2004.

Group C edit

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 9 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6
  China 3 3 1 0 2 3 3 0
  Syria 3 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3
  Uzbekistan 3 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3
China  0–2  Uzbekistan
Report Shkvyrin   78'
Shatskikh   90'

Japan  4–0  Uzbekistan
Nanami   7'
Miura   37'
Maezono   86', 90'
Report

Uzbekistan  1–2  Syria
Lebedev   53' (pen.) Report Jokhadar   48'
Dib   74'

2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon edit

Uzbekistan made their second appearance by participating in the 2000 edition held in Lebanon. However, this would have become Uzbekistan's worst performance in their history, drew just one and lost two matches, both were humiliating 1–8 and 0–5 demolitions on the hand of Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Group C edit

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 7 3 2 1 0 13 3 +10
  Saudi Arabia 4 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2
  Qatar 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0
  Uzbekistan 1 3 0 1 2 2 14 −12
Qatar  1–1  Uzbekistan
Gholam   61' Report Qosimov   73'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Mohd Nazri Abdullah (Malaysia)

Japan  8–1  Uzbekistan
Morishima   7'
Nishizawa   14', 25', 49'
Takahara   18', 20', 57'
Kitajima   79'
Report Lushan   29'

Saudi Arabia  5–0  Uzbekistan
Al-Otaibi   18'
Al-Shalhoub   35', 78', 86'
Al-Temyat   88'
Report

2004 Asian Cup in China edit

Uzbekistan participated in the Asian Cup 2004 held in China, and it would have marked their historical milestones. The White Wolves was drawn with neighboring Turkic Turkmenistan, and two Arab teams Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the latter was the runners-up last edition. Uzbekistan, however, performed better than expected. Uzbekistan defeated all three teams with the result 1–0, to qualify for the knockout stage first time, and also the only time they topped group with full nine points. The White Wolves had to end their journey after losing to Bahrain in a penalty shootout.

Group C edit

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Uzbekistan 9 3 3 0 0 3 0 +3
  Iraq 6 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1
  Turkmenistan 1 3 0 1 2 4 6 −2
  Saudi Arabia 1 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2
Iraq  0–1  Uzbekistan
Report Qosimov   21'

Uzbekistan  1–0  Saudi Arabia
Geynrikh   13' Report

Turkmenistan  0–1  Uzbekistan
Report Qosimov   58'

Quarter-finals edit

Uzbekistan  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Bahrain
Geynrikh   60'
Shishelov   86'
Report A. Hubail   71', 76'
Penalties
Fyodorov  
Djeperov  
Geynrikh  
Bikmoev  
Koshelev  
3–4   Ali
  Juma
  Baba
  Farhan
  A. Hubail

2007 Asian Cup in Indonesia/Malaysia/Thailand/Vietnam edit

Uzbekistan would have continued their participation by placing themselves in Group C together with host Malaysia, latest runners-up China and giant Iran. Having been drawn into a tough group with only Malaysia as a point basket, very few people expected Uzbekistan to do something but three points. Uzbekistan eventually lost 1–2 in their opening account against Iran, before demolished Malaysia 5–0. However, in the last match against China, Uzbekistan successfully repeated their feat at 1996, this time, in an even more glorious way by crushing China 3–0. This surprising victory enabled Uzbekistan to the quarter-finals twice while eliminated China from the tournament.[1]

In the quarter-finals, Uzbekistan once again lost to another Arab team, this time, to Saudi Arabia, after 90 minutes with a 1–2 loss and had to go home.

Group C edit

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Iran 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7
  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 9 2 +7 6
  China 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1 4
  Malaysia 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Iran  2–1  Uzbekistan
Hosseini   55'
Kazemian   78'
Report Rezaei   16' (o.g.)

Uzbekistan  5–0  Malaysia
Shatskikh   10', 89'
Kapadze   30'
Bakayev   45+2' (pen.)
Ibrahimov   85'
Report

Uzbekistan  3–0  China
Shatskikh   72'
Kapadze   86'
Geynrikh   90+4'
Report

Quarter-finals edit

Saudi Arabia  2–1  Uzbekistan
Y. Al-Qahtani   3'
Al-Mousa   75'
Report Solomin   82'

2011 Asian Cup in Qatar edit

Uzbekistan's participation in the 2011 edition was considered as the most successful to date. Placing in group A with host Qatar, old rival China and Kuwait, the Uzbeks showed to be tough when they beat host Qatar 2–0 and Kuwait 2–1. Although could not repeat the feat of four years ago with China when they drew 2–2, Uzbekistan was still able to qualify into the quarter-finals. In there, Uzbekistan for the first time, to win a match in the knockout round, beating another fellow underdog Jordan 2–1. However, Uzbekistan's semi-final match would have turned to be a nightmare when they lost 0–6 to Australia, shattered their dream to go for their maiden final.[2] In the third place match, Uzbekistan continued losing 2–3 to South Korea, and got their best ever position in Asian Cup history: fourth place.

Group A edit

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Uzbekistan 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7
  Qatar 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
  China 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
  Kuwait 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
7 January 2011
Qatar   0–2   Uzbekistan
12 January 2011
Uzbekistan   2–1   Kuwait
16 January 2011
China   2–2   Uzbekistan

Quarter-finals edit

Uzbekistan  2–1  Jordan
Bakayev   47', 49' Report B. Bani Yaseen   58'

Semi-finals edit

Uzbekistan  0–6  Australia
Report Kewell   5'
Ognenovski   35'
Carney   65'
Emerton   73'
Valeri   82'
Kruse   83'

Third place play-off edit

Uzbekistan  2–3  South Korea
Geynrikh   45' (pen.), 53' Report Koo Ja-Cheol   18'
Ji Dong-Won   28', 39'

2015 Asian Cup in Australia edit

Their participation in 2015 Asian Cup was not considered to be too successful. Uzbekistan, placed with North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia, was expected to make up into the semi-finals. Uzbekistan, said, needed to play all three matches to secure their ticket to the knockout stage. First, they beat North Korea 1–0[3] but they lost to China, for the first time in the Asian Cup, 1–2, despite had taken the lead. Uzbekistan had to fight hard to win 3–1 over Saudi Arabia, eventually booked their ticket to the knockout stage facing South Korea.[4]

In the match against South Korea, a rematch of the previous edition's third place-playoff, the Uzbeks were more resilience, and goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov had played an astonishing match to hold off South Korea and bring the match to extra time. The Koreans proved to be stronger when they scored two goals, effectively eliminating an Uzbekistan side that had shown great strength from the tournament.

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   China 3 3 0 0 5 2 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3   Saudi Arabia 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
4   North Korea 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: Asian Cup Australia 2015
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
10 January 2015
Uzbekistan   1–0   North Korea Stadium Australia, Sydney
14 January 2015
China   2–1   Uzbekistan Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
18 January 2015
Uzbekistan   3–1   Saudi Arabia AAMI Park, Melbourne

Quarter-finals edit

South Korea  2–0 (a.e.t.)  Uzbekistan
Son Heung-min   104', 120' Report
Attendance: 23,381

2019 Asian Cup in the UAE edit

Uzbekistan joined group F with Japan, Oman and 2004 rival, neighboring Turkmenistan. For the Uzbeks, they were looking for their maiden final, and Uzbekistan's successful victory in 2018 AFC U-23 Championship was believed to be the boost for the White Wolves in such a tough group.

Under guidance of Héctor Cúper, who coached Egypt in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Uzbekistan won against Oman and Turkmenistan, their first two matches, before falling to Japan in the last match that saw Uzbekistan occupied second place in the group. Thus, the defeat to Japan forced Uzbekistan to face Australia, whom they lost disastrously 0–6 eight years ago and also the champions of previous edition. This time, Uzbekistan played better and more organized, thus forcing the match into penalty shootout, but Australia eventually overcame the White Wolves 4–2, thus ended Uzbekistan's campaign in sad note.

Group F edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan 3 3 0 0 6 3 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6
3   Oman 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4   Turkmenistan 3 0 0 3 3 10 −7 0
Source: AFC
Uzbekistan  2–1  Oman
Report
Attendance: 9,424

Turkmenistan  0–4  Uzbekistan
Report

Japan  2–1  Uzbekistan
Report

Round of 16 edit

Australia  0–0 (a.e.t.)  Uzbekistan
Report
Penalties
4–2

2023 Asian Cup in Qatar edit

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Australia 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Uzbekistan 3 1 2 0 4 1 +3 5
3   Syria 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
4   India 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0
Source: AFC
Uzbekistan  0–0  Syria
Report

India  0–3  Uzbekistan
Report
Attendance: 38,491
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

Australia  1–1  Uzbekistan
Report
Attendance: 15,290
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

Knockout stage edit

Round of 16 edit

Uzbekistan  2–1  Thailand
Report

Quarter-finals edit

Qatar  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Uzbekistan
Report
Penalties
3–2
Attendance: 58,791

References edit

  1. ^ "China ousted after losing 0-3 to Uzbekistan". www.chinadaily.com.cn.
  2. ^ "Australia beats Uzbekistan 6-0 to reach first Asian Cup final". The Globe and Mail. 25 January 2011.
  3. ^ Skene, Patrick (January 12, 2015). "Enigmatic Uzbekistan reveal Asian Cup threat | Patrick Skene". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  4. ^ "Asian Cup: Uzbekistan 3-1 Saudi Arabia | Match report". The Guardian. January 18, 2015 – via www.theguardian.com.