2018_AFC_U-23_Championship_Final

2018 AFC U-23 Championship final

2018 AFC U-23 Championship final

Football match


The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship Final was a football match that took place on 27 January 2018 at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre in Changzhou, China, to determine the winners of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. The match was contested by Vietnam and Uzbekistan, the winners of the semi-finals.

Quick Facts Event, Vietnam ...

Uzbekistan beat Vietnam after extra time to claim their maiden U-23 Asian Cup title in what was considered to be the most exciting and special final in the history of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[1][2]

Route to the final

Vietnam's participation to the final was considered as a surprise. Prior to the tournament, Vietnam had just participated in one edition, the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship where they finished bottom with total three defeats. Uzbekistan, being considered as a heavyweight, in their first two editions were not successful, being eliminated from the group stage both two editions and only claimed one victory in both tournaments.

Vietnam participated in the tournament together with South Korea, Australia and Syria. Being in a tough group, Vietnam was believed to make an early exit from the group stage. That was true in the first match, when Vietnam lost 1–2 to South Korea. However, Vietnam surprisingly bounced back and beat Australia 1–0, took vengeance for the defeat two years ago. After drawing Syria 0–0, Vietnam, together with Malaysia were the first two Southeast Asian teams to qualify into the knockout stage. Vietnam continued to surprise every predictions by defeating Iraq and Qatar on the penalty shootout after two thrillers, both ended 3–3 and 2–2 after 120 minutes each. Thus Vietnam had written history by becoming the first Southeast Asian team since 1999, to play in the final of an AFC tournament.[3] This was also Vietnam's first ever AFC final in their football history.[4]

Uzbekistan was placed in group A with host China, Qatar and Oman. Unlike Vietnam, Uzbekistan had more experience, and was expected to make at least the semi-finals. However, their hope was shattered by a humiliating 0–1 loss to Qatar, before they fought back and defeated China and Oman both with the score 1–0. When the Young White Wolves passed into the quarter-finals, the Uzbeks showed their strength by demolishing an Olympic-preparing squad and Asian champions Japan in a surprising 4–0 victory, before taking 120 minutes to defeat another East Asian giant, South Korea, 4–1.[5]

More information Vietnam, Round ...

Match

In decidedly snowy conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbekistan who controlled the early proceedings, and they duly took the lead on eight minutes when a poorly marked Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed home Khamdamov’s outswinging corner.

Uzbekistan continued to press after the breakthrough, as both a Javokhir Sidikov header and Khamdamov’s effort from 20 yards forced Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung into quick saves.

Despite struggling to fully impose themselves on the game, Vietnam briefly threatened to restore parity shortly after the half hour mark when Pham Xuan Manh’s excellent cross narrowly eluded the onrushing Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai.

However, after seeing Azizjon Ganiev fire narrowly over, Vietnam drew level on the stroke of half-time. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought down on the edge of the area and from the resulting free-kick, Quang Hai superbly curled the ball past the despairing dive of Botirali Ergashev to register his fifth goal of the tournament.

After a delayed restart to allow a layer of snow to be removed from the pitch, Uzbekistan were the first to shine once again, this time Khamdamov stinging the palms of Tien Dung courtesy of a 48th minute long-range drive.

Moments later, Tien Dung, the hero of Vietnam’s semi-final win over Iraq, reacted well to deny Sidikov from six yards, before Uzbekistan captain Zabikhillo Urinboev fizzed a shot wide of the left-hand upright on 70 minutes.

In the last meaningful action of normal time, Urinboev could, and very possibly should, have won the match for the Central Asians, but the striker inexplicably lashed his attempt from eight yards over the bar after Tien Dung had parried Akramjon Komilov’s cross into his path.

Urinboev’s miss was to matter little in the end though, as Sidorov applied an expert finish to Khamdamov's last gasp corner at the end of additional time to seal the title for Uzbekistan and break Vietnamese hearts on a day of high drama.

More information Vietnam, 1–2 (a.e.t.) ...
Final

Vietnam
Uzbekistan (first half)
Uzbekistan (second half and extra time)
GK1Bùi Tiến Dũng I
CB11Đỗ Duy MạnhYellow card 111'
CB21Trần Đình Trọng
CB4Bùi Tiến Dũng II
RM2Phạm Xuân Mạnh
CM6Lương Xuân Trường (c)
CM8Phạm Đức Huydownward-facing red arrow 58'
LM17Vũ Văn Thanh
RF19Nguyễn Quang Hải
CF10Nguyễn Công Phượngdownward-facing red arrow 80'
LF14Phan Văn Đứcdownward-facing red arrow 109'
Substitutions:
DF20Bùi Tiến DụngYellow card 101'upward-facing green arrow 80'
MF7Nguyễn Phong Hồng Duyupward-facing green arrow 109'
FW13Hà Đức Chinhupward-facing green arrow 58'
Manager:
South Korea Park Hang-seo
GK1Botirali Ergashev
RB5Abbosjon Otakhonovdownward-facing red arrow 103'
CB20Dostonbek TursunovYellow card 111'
CB2Rustamjon Ashurmatov
LB4Akramjon Komilov
CM6Azizjon Ganiev
CM7Odiljon HamrobekovYellow card 35'
RW8Jasurbek YakhshiboevYellow card 10'downward-facing red arrow 45'
AM10Javokhir SidikovYellow card 121'downward-facing red arrow 118'
LW17Dostonbek Khamdamov
CF9Zabikhillo Urinboev (c)
Substitutions:
MF16Doniyorjon Narzullaevupward-facing green arrow 45'
FW22Bobur Abdikholikovupward-facing green arrow 103'
FW11Andrey Sidorovupward-facing green arrow 118'
Manager:
Ravshan Khaydarov

Match rules:

Controversies

Referee issues

Prior to the final, the AFC had assigned Chinese referee Ma Ning to be in the final. However, only a few hours before the match, Ma was replaced by Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf.[6] The AFC did not explain their reasoning behind its decision, however, it was believed to have been from disputes between the host officials and the AFC over refereeing. Al-Kaf himself had also refereed in some previous AFC Champions League matches.[6]

Snowy conditions

The match was played in heavy snow, under –2°C, which was relatively very cold, and it had been suggested that the match be delayed due to snowfall.[7] However, the AFC turned down the request and ordered the match to continue. After the end of the first half, the AFC asked that the snow be cleared from the field, and it took around thirty minutes to one hour until the match could be continued.[8] It was criticised in the aftermath of the match, both by Uzbek and Vietnamese fans, as both teams were not accustomed to play in such harsh weather conditions.[9]

Uzbekistan's team shirt

In the first half, the Uzbeks were permitted by the AFC to wear all-white, despite heavy snow storms across the city. Because of this, not only the Vietnamese, but even the Uzbek players found themselves very hard to find and see their own players on the field.[1] To solve the problem, the Uzbeks had changed to blue uniforms in the second half of the match.[10]


References

  1. Paul Murphy (27 January 2018). "Vietnam suffer extra-time defeat to Uzbekistan in AFC U23 final". ESPN. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "Brave Vietnam sunk by late goal in snow-hit final". The New Paper. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. Zulhilmi Zainal (23 January 2018). "Indomitable Vietnam set AFC U-23 final date thanks to Quang Hai's double". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. "Meet the Finalists: Vietnam". Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. Gabriel Tan (23 January 2018). "AFC U-23 Championship: Uzbekistan see off Korea Republic to make final". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. Kiên Lê (30 January 2018). "Lộ lý do AFC loại Ma Ning, chọn trọng tài Oman bắt trận chung kết". Thể Thao 24h. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. Ha Do (27 January 2018). "Heavy snow threatens to delay Vietnam vs Uzbekistan U23 Asian Cup final". VnExpress. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  8. Thanh Phong (27 January 2018). "Thua U23 Uzbekistan phút chót, U23 Việt Nam giành ngôi Á quân" (in Vietnamese). Goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  9. Tiệp Nguyễn (28 January 2018). "Fan quốc tế khâm phục Việt Nam sau trận chung kết AFC U23" (in Vietnamese). Việt Times. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  10. Viễn Đông (27 January 2018). "Chung kết U23 Việt Nam – Uzbekistan" (in Vietnamese). Voice of America. Retrieved 1 September 2018.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2018_AFC_U-23_Championship_Final, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.