Uzbekistan down Qatar to finish 2020 AFC U23 Championship warm-up
The win follows earlier successes against fellow Thailand 2020 participants Iraq, who Uzbekistan beat 4-2 and 3-1 in a pair of friendlies in Sharjah last week.
Ljubinko Drulovic’s side also beat two Emirati club sides – Al Arabi and Al Hamriyah – taking their tally to five consecutive wins and 18 goals scored in the last two and a half weeks.
Following on from his goal-laden camp in the UAE, FC Nasaf forward Bobir Abdixolikov was among the standouts in Friday’s win, scoring in the 40th and 70th minutes to bookend a 44th minute goal from club teammate Khusniddin Alikulov.
Midfielder Mohammed Waad scored Qatar’s goal, a 78th minute consolation, as Felix Sanchez’s side suffered a defeat ahead of next Thursday’s Group B opener against Syria.
Thursday is also opening day for Uzbekistan, with Drulovic’s charges set for a blockbuster clash against Islamic Republic of Iran at Songkhla’s Tinsulanon Stadium.
Uzbekistan are the AFC U23 Championship’s defending champions, having beaten Vietnam in a memorable final in China PR two years ago.
This year’s AFC U23 Championship begins in Bangkok on Wednesday, with the top three sides to seal qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics football tournament.
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