First Day of Asian Cup Comes to a Close
The U-17 Asian Cup kicked off in Saudi Arabia
In Group A, host Saudi Arabia's youth team secured a convincing 4:0 victory over Myanmar. The match was refereed by an Uzbekistan-led team, headed by Akobirxo'ja Shukurullayev.
In the group's second match, neighboring Tajikistan's national team achieved a crucial 2:0 win over Thailand. In the 2nd round, the Tajiks will face group outsider Myanmar, and a win would resolve the issue of reaching the playoffs and the U17 World Cup.
In Group B, favorite Japan started with a confident win over Qatar. Although Qatar led 1:0 at halftime, Japan managed to turn the game around in the second half.
In the group's next match, Indonesia secured a win over China with a goal scored in the final minutes, improving their chances of reaching the World Cup.
North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Asian Cup just 5 days before the tournament's start.
As a result, Uzbekistan's group partner, North Korea, will have a bye in the 1st round. In this group,
Australia
India
Uzbekistan
will compete for the group title. The top two teams in each quartet will participate in the World Cup.