Uzbekistan qualified for the AFC U-23 Championship after topping Group D with a 2-0 win over hosts UAE at the Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Al Ain on Wednesday.
Both sides were level on six points from two games coming into this third and final group fixture, but the UAE had an edge in better goal difference and knew they only needed a draw to progress.
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The UAE looked comforted by that fact until after the hour when Kobilov nodded in Jasurbek Yakhshiboev’s corner. A second was then added by Javokir Sidikov on 90 minutes.
Now the hosts face an anxious wait to see whether they will still qualify for the Finals in China as one of five or six best runners-up.
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