“Sardorbek Bakhromov gives Uzbekistan U23 the lead, finishing off a move started by Saidkhon Khamidov's assist.”
Pivotal
Uzbekistan U23
Japan U23
Uzbekistan U23
Japan U23 wins on penalties
Japan U23 dominated proceedings territorially, racking up 76 dangerous attacks to Uzbekistan's 30 and doubling them up on shots, but found Uzbekistan's rearguard stubborn until the very end. Sardorbek Bakhromov's 8th-minute strike, assisted by Saidkhon Khamidov, gave the hosts a lead they defended resiliently despite being second-best for long spells and conceding 8 corners to just 2. Japan's pressure finally told in the 87th minute when substitute-turned-hero Keita Kosugi teed up Sena Ishibashi to snatch a stoppage-time-adjacent equalizer and force extra time. With neither side able to find a winner across 120 minutes, the tie went to penalties, where Japan held their composure to edge through 9-8 after Uzbekistan's Azizbek Tulkinbekov and Japan's Nwadike Uche both missed spot-kicks in a shootout that stretched deep into sudden death.
How entertaining was this match?
Saidkhon KhamidovGoal in the penalty shootout! Saidkhon Khamidov scores, making it 7-7.
Rei UmekiGoal in the penalty shootout! Rei Umeki scores, bringing the tally to 6-7.
Ruziboy FayzullaevGoal in the penalty shootout! Ruziboy Fayzullaev scores, bringing the shootout score to 6-6.
Yumeki YokoyamaYumeki Yokoyama scores a penalty in the shootout, making it 5-6.
Giyosdzhon RizakulovGoal in the penalty shootout! Giyosdzhon Rizoqulov scores, making it 5-5.
Yudai ShimamotoPenalty Goal - Yudai Shimamoto 4-5
Shodiyor ShodiboevGoal in the penalty shootout! Shodiyor Shodiboev scores, making it 4-4.
Kaito TsuchiyaGoal in the penalty shootout! Kaito Tsuchiya scores, bringing the score to 3-4.
Mukhammedali ReimovPenalty goal! Mukhammadali Reimov scores, bringing the score to 3-3.
Penalty miss by Nwadike Uche for Bryan Seo in the shootout, with the score now 2-3.
Dilshod MurtozoevPenalty Goal - Dilshod Murtozoev 2-3
Nelson IshiwatariGoal in the penalty shootout! Nelson Ishiwatari scores, making it 1-3.
Azizbek TulkinbekovPenalty miss by Azizbek Tulkinbekov. The score remains 1-2.
Yuto OzekiGoal in the penalty shootout! Yuto Ozeki scores, making it 1-2.
Sardorbek BakhromovPenalty goal! Sardorbek Bakhromov scores, making it 1-1.
Penalty goal! Yotaro Nakajima scores to make it 0-1.
Mukhammadali Reimov comes on for Ravshan Khayrullaev.
Kuvonchbek Khushvaktov is substituted off for Diyorbek Abdunazarov.
Match Ends！90Min[1-1],120Min[1-1]
Yotaro Nakajima is substituted for Sena Ishibashi.
Shuto NaganoYellow CardShuto Nagano receives a yellow card.
Goal! Sena Ishibashi scores to make it 1-1, assisted by Keita Kosugi.
Diyorbek Abdunazarov comes on for Ollabergan Karimov.
Shodiyor Shodiboev is substituted off for Asilbek Jumaev.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Rei Umeki is substituted for Soichiro Mori.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
On Ravshan Khayrullaev, Off Mukhammadali Urinboev.
Corner awarded.
Nwadike Uche Bryan Seo is on, and Yutaka Michiwaki is off.
Yudai Shimamoto is coming on for Hisatsugu Ishii.
Yuto Ozeki is on, and Kenshin Yasuda is off.
Corner awarded.
Keita KosugiYellow CardYellow card shown to Keita Kosugi.
Yumeki Yokoyama is on, and Shusuke Furuya is off.
First half ends with a score of 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Firdavs Abdurakhmonov is substituted off for Saidumarkhon Saidnurullayev.
assist: Saidkhon Khamidov
Goal! Sardorbek Bakhromov scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Saidkhon Khamidov.
Kick-off has begun!
Uzbekistan U23 and Japan U23 both arrive in Osaka unbeaten, riding four-match winning streaks into a win-or-go-home semi-final. Japan's miserly defense meets Uzbekistan's patient, possession-heavy style in a clash that promises to be tight and tense.
