The-AFC.com: Uzbekistan on target again as Thailand 2020 looms

Sherzhod Nasrullaev, Mirjakhon Mirakhmadov and Khojiakbar Alijonov were all on the scoresheet for Ljubinko Drulovic’s charges, while Munthader Sattar found the net for Iraq.

Uzbekistan’s win follows an earlier 4-2 victory over Iraq, as well as a 4-0 success against local club outfit Al Arabi, as the Central Asian side prepare to defend their Asian title in Thailand next month.

Three of the game’s four goals came in a frantic period just prior to half-time, with Nasrullaev opening the scoring with a close-range header in the 41st minute before Mirakhmadov found space behind the defence to roll home a second goal three minutes later.

Sattar found the net after a goalmouth scramble to reduce the deficit to one in first-half stoppage time, but FC Pakhtakor full-back Alijonov sealed the win with three minutes remaining in the second half, cutting inside a defender before sliding the ball home from 12 yards to make it 3-1.

AFC U23 Champions in China PR in 2018, Uzbekistan’s Thailand 2020 campaign begins against Islamic Republic of Iran in Songkhla on January 9, a day after Iraq begin their tournament against Australia in Pathum Thani.

In addition to the Asian title, the 16 teams in the competition will be competing for a ticket to next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic football tournament, with the top three finishers to join hosts Japan among the qualifiers.