Uzbekistan start AFC U-16 Championship 2018 qualifying campaign with a victory over Bahrain

Uzbekistan waited till the very end before striking the winning goal against Bahrain to open their AFC U-16 Championship 2018 qualifying campaign in dramatic fashion.

Bahrain went into the match on a high, after having beaten Sri Lanka 6-0 in their opening Group A tie on Saturday while Uzbekistan were playing their first match of the Qualifiers.

If goals had been easy to come by for Bahrain against Sri Lanka, they found Uzbekistan a different proposition as both sides were equally matched at the Riyadh Sports Club.

As play swung end to end with neither side finding a breakthrough, it began to seem that a draw would be the likely result but Uzbekistan had other plans despite the match being played under the hot afternoon sun.

Uzbekistan sent on Kosimov Mirjalol in the 83rd minute in place of Buriev Abdurauf and it proved to be an inspired move as the substitute struck in the 89th minute to break Bahrain hearts.

Sri Lanka face Jordan, who stunned hosts Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Saturday, later on Monday.