In Focus: When the White Wolves ruled

A talented young side had claimed the AFC U-16 Championship title in 2012, but that was the only Continental trophy the Central Asians had lifted since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 1994.

Two years ago in Jiangsu, Ravshan Khadarov’s team began slowly before growing into the tournament. We look back how their march to a memorable title unfolded.

Slow starters advance

Uzbekistan went into the tournament with a number of players who had already been capped by their country at senior level, perhaps most notably Dostonbek Khamdamov, the 2015 AFC Youth Player of the Year who was also part of the 2012 success.

But, paired in a group alongside hosts China PR, an exciting young Qatar side and Oman, the Uzbeks were dealt a tough hand in qualifying and began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to the Qataris as the would be AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 top scorer Almoez Ali netted the only goal of the game.

That meant their next match against the Chinese, who had beaten Oman in their opening game, was already do-or-die with Uzbekistan facing an early elimination if they lost. However, they secured the result they needed as Khojiakbar Alijonov scored inside 15 minutes to seal a 1-0 victory.

The win put them in a strong position ahead of their final Group A match against bottom-of-the-table Oman and, in yet another tight contest, Dostonbek Tursunov’s scrappy goal in the 36th minute sealed another 1-0 scoreline and, with China losing to Qatar, a place in the quarter-finals. 

Japan blown away

That meant their next match against the Chinese, who had beaten Oman in their opening game, was already do-or-die with Uzbekistan facing an early elimination if they lost. However, they secured the result they needed as Khojiakbar Alijonov scored inside 15 minutes to seal a 1-0 victory.

The win put them in a strong position ahead of their final Group A match against bottom-of-the-table Oman and, in yet another tight contest, Dostonbek Tursunov’s scrappy goal in the 36th minute sealed another 1-0 scoreline and, with China losing to Qatar, a place in the quarter-finals. 

Japan blown away

That meant their next match against the Chinese, who had beaten Oman in their opening game, was already do-or-die with Uzbekistan facing an early elimination if they lost. However, they secured the result they needed as Khojiakbar Alijonov scored inside 15 minutes to seal a 1-0 victory.

The win put them in a strong position ahead of their final Group A match against bottom-of-the-table Oman and, in yet another tight contest, Dostonbek Tursunov’s scrappy goal in the 36th minute sealed another 1-0 scoreline and, with China losing to Qatar, a place in the quarter-finals. 

Japan blown away

While Uzbekistan had played a large part in eliminating the hosts, the headlines had been more focused on China’s early exit than the Central Asians’ chances of progressing deep into the tournament.

Up next were the defending champions Japan, who had won all three of their group stage games en route to the last eight although, with a relatively inexperienced side, had not been as convincing as they were two years previously.

Javokhir Sidikov, a creative midfielder who had stood out during the group stage, put Uzbekistan in front with a beautiful curling strike from just outside the area shortly after the half hour, before Khamdamov capitalised on poor Japan defending to double the advantage three minutes later.

With the young White Wolves now in firm control, Jasurbek Yakhshiboev all but killed the game off before the interval when he created space for himself inside the area and sent an unstoppable effort into the top right corner to complete a remarkable 10 minutes for the Uzbeks, and the midfielder wrapped up a stunning 4-0 win two minutes after the restart with his second of the game.

Uzbeks march on

By now, Uzbekistan were looking the real deal. Having conceded just one goal in four matches, they went into their semi-final against Korea Republic boasting the meanest defence in the competition.

Shielding the back four was the impressive pairing of Azizjon Ganiev and Odiljon Xamrobekov, while Khamdamov, Sidikov and Yakhshiboev provided the creative spark behind captain and lone striker Zabikhillo Urinboev.

Sidikov again shone against the Koreans, threading a lovely through-ball to Urinboev, who slotted his side in front on 33 minutes, but the East Asians fought back and levelled through Hwang Hyun-soo’s header as the hour approached.

However, with Jang Yun-ho dismissed for a second bookable offence with 15 minutes remaining, the Uzbeks were presented with an excellent opportunity of reaching the final going into extra-time.

And they took full advantage of it, with Ganiev rocketing in a goal of the tournament contender from distance in the 99th minute before Yakhshiboev netted his third of the campaign after the interval and Akramjon Komilov’s cross-cum-shot in stoppage time put the icing on the cake.

Finale in the snow

It wasn’t the final many had predicted, but Uzbekistan versus Vietnam pitted two sides that had hit peak form in the knockout rounds, with the Southeast Asians’ run leading to tens of thousands taking to the streets in celebration back home.

Heavy snowfall in the days leading up to the showpiece event left a white sheet covering the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre pitch and led to the Vietnamese playing in conditions most of their players had never experienced, never mind played in.

Uzbekistan took control early on as defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed in Khamdamov’s corner but Vietnam fought back with the outstanding Nguyen Quang Hai curling in the soon-to-be-called ‘Rainbow in the Snow’ as the interval approached.

An extended half-time saw stadium personnel take to the pitch to clear the thickening blanket of snow and, when the sides eventually returned, Uzbekistan had changed from their usual white jerseys to their blue second strips.

Sidorov the hero

After no further goals in the second half, the contest went to an additional 30 minutes before the winners were crowned in the most dramatic of fashion.

With penalties just seconds away, Uzbekistan had one last throw of the dice, with Khamdamov swinging in another corner from the left and Andrey Sidorov, brought off the bench just two minutes earlier, volleying in from close range to spark joyous celebrations among the Uzbek squad and their small pocket of fans who had braved the conditions.

The last-gasp winner was harsh on Vietnam, who had lit up the tournament in reaching the final only to see their dream ended in the most heartbreaking way at the end.

But for Uzbekistan, whose Xamrobekov picked up the Most Valuable Player award, the celebrations in the snow offered their fans a glorious moment after so many near misses over the years.