Central Asian powerhouse Uzbekistan U23 men's soccer team faced a direct challenge from Southeast Asian soccer powerhouse Malaysia U23 men's soccer team in the first round of group stage matches at the U23 Asian Cup.
Prior to the opening of the match, Uzbekistan had the momentum of two consecutive wins, including a 2-0 victory over China in a friendly match, while Malaysia was in the doldrums with two consecutive losses, including a 1-2 defeat against China in a friendly match. The comparison certainly shows Uzbekistan's superiority in terms of strength, with over 70% of fans convinced that Uzbekistan can beat their opponents in their opening match.
The match entered the first half with Janolidinov breaking the deadlock first for Uzbekistan.
The tide turned in the second half, and Hoschimov's game-tying goal in the 84th minute sealed the game for good.
In the end, Uzbekistan started their U23 Asian Cup campaign with a win, while Malaysia suffered an opening blackout. After the match, Uzbekistan topped Group D with three points, while Malaysia were unlucky to finish at the bottom.
