Humam Tareq scored an 81st-minute winner as Iraq secured a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Uzbekistan at Suhaim Bin Hamed Stadium yesterday, a result that ensured the defending champions and South Korea qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Championship from Group C.
The fastest goal in the fledging two edition history of the tournament from AFC Youth Player of the Year Dostonbek Khamdamov after less than 12 seconds had looked to have given Uzbekistan the ideal chance to bounce back from their opening day 2-1 defeat by Korea Republic only for Amjad Attwan Kadhim and Mahdi Kamil to hand Iraq the lead before half-time.
Substitute Timur Khakimov then looked to have kept alive Uzbekistan’s hopes of a place in knockout stage after heading home a 79th minute equaliser, only for Tareq to snatch the win just two minutes later as Iraq joined the South Koreans in qualifying for the last eight with a game to spare.
Needing to win after Korea Republic earlier recorded a 5-0 win over Yemen, Uzbekistan made the ideal start as hesitation in the Iraq defence after failing to deal with a long ball forward straight from kick-off allowed Khamdamov to sneak in and beat goalkeeper Fahad Talib from just outside the six yard area with barely 12 seconds played.
The goal set the pace of the play for the remainder of a fast-paced end-to-end first half, although neither team was able to create a clear-cut chance despite Iraq goalkeeper Talib needing to be on his toes to push a free-kick from Khamdamov over the crossbar.
But eight minutes before half-time Uzbekistan’s over eagerness to add a second proved costly as Ali Hisny led a counterattack following a corner and the midfielder squared the ball across the penalty area for Kadhim to fire high into the net past goalkeeper Abdumavlon Abduljalilov from close to the penalty spot courtesy of a deflection.
And Iraq completed the turnaround two minutes before half-time as Uzbekistan captain Igor Sergeev was unable to clear Hisny’s high cross into the penalty area and the ball broke kindly for Kamil and the striker swept past an exposed Abduljalilov.
Both sides pressed for what would be a crucial next goal of tight contest in the second half but neither were able to find the breakthrough as Kamil flashed an effort just wide of the upright with 13 minutes remaining.
But two minutes later Khakimov, who had replaced Khamdamov just three minutes earlier, headed Jaloliddin Masharipov’s back-post cross under Iraq goalkeeper Talib to seemingly keep Uzbekistan’s campaign alive.
Iraq, though, found an almost instant response as Tareq took advantage of hesitation in the Uzbekistan defence to fire past Abduljalilov from inside the area.
There was still time for Uzbekistan to almost draw level again, but Eldor Shomurodov’s 85th minute strike struck the crossbar.