In a dramatic turn of events on the morning of May 31, Uzbekistan U20 suffered a devastating loss to Israel U20 in the round of 16 of the U20 World Cup 2023. The match seemed destined for extra time or even a penalty shootout, but in the 7th minute of stoppage time, Uzbekistan's hopes were shattered.
As fans braced themselves for additional play, Israel U20 earned a corner kick. Anan Khalaili attempted a high shot that missed its mark, but the ball fortuitously rebounded off the No. 7 player and fell to Khalaili, who swiftly converted the opportunity from close range, giving Israel U20 the winning goal.
With only a minute of injury time remaining, Uzbekistan U20's chance to turn the tide slipped away. The young Asian players collapsed on the field, overcome with tears as the final whistle blew, marking the end of their journey in the tournament.
U20 Israel's triumph earned them a place in the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup, making them the second team, after the United States, to achieve this feat. Meanwhile, Asia's representation in the round of 16 was limited to Korea, who are set to face Ecuador on June 2.
Reflecting on the match at Malvinas Argentinas, U20 Israel and Uzbekistan displayed an equal level of play. Both teams had a total of 13 shots, with each side even hitting the woodwork once. Uzbekistan's defense held strong for over 90 minutes, but a brief lapse in concentration cost them dearly, denying them a spot in the quarterfinals.
This marks the first time in the last two U20 World Cups that Uzbekistan has been eliminated in the round of 16. In the previous tournaments, the Asian representative achieved back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in 2013 and 2015. Despite their early exit this year, Uzbekistan U20 can take pride in their overall performance and look forward to future opportunities to shine on the international stage.
