April 24 – Uzbekistan’s 3-0 win over Vietnam at the Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar, on Tuesday decided the final match-ups for the AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter finals to be played later this week.
Uzbekistan will return to the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Friday to face 2018 winners Saudi Arabia who finished second in Group C
A first half surge saw Uzbekistan hit the back of the net three times to maintain their 100% record in Group D with three wins out of three.
Saudi Arabia were leading their group until they were undone in their final group game by a resurgent Iraq who lost their opener against Thailand but rallied to beat Tajikistan to set up the group finale.
2013 champions Iraq and 2018 runners-up Vietnam will contest Friday’s second semi-final at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The quarter-finals will kick-off with hosts Qatar facing 2016 winners Japan on Thursday. Qatar have never won the U23 title but the country is riding the wave of their senior team’s Asian Cup win in February and expectations are high.
That match will be followed by 2020 champions Korea Republic against debutants Indonesia at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
The top three teams will qualify for the Paris Olympics with the fourth-placed side qualifying for an intercontinental play off against African’s Guinea for a berth at the 2024 Games.
Thursday
Qatar v Japan
Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (DohaKorea Republic v Indonesia
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (Doha)
Friday
Uzbekistan v Saudi Arabia
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium (Doha)Iraq v Vietnam
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah)
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