CALCUTTA (India): India began their AFC U19 Championship 2020 qualification campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Uzbekistan at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.
After goalless first half, the Uzbeks scored twice in the second half to pick up three points in their Group F league match.
Fresh from a South Asian title in September, India approached the fixture with optimism.
However, the Uzbeks kept Pinto Floyd’s side pinned inside their own half for much of the opening period.
But Otabek Gulyamkhodjaev’s couldn’t convert the chances they created while a miss from Vikram Partap served as a reminder of India’s threat at the opposite end of the pitch.
It took just eight second half minutes for Uzbekistan to make the breakthrough, with Jasurbek Jaloliddinov given ample to time to pick out Khoshimov, who scored from within the six-yard box.
Uzbekistan doubled the lead 12 minutes later, with Olimjonov evading the attention of the Indian defence to poke home a corner kick on the volley from just four yards out.
India’s qualification hopes now hinge on an improved result against Saudi Arabia on Friday while Uzbekistan will look to continue their strong start against Afghanistan.
