Uzbekistan at the AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan is one of the most successful teams in Asia, and the most successful team in Central Asia, having qualified for every AFC Asian Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union. With a rich history of competing in the tournament, Uzbekistan is often regarded as a top team and a rising contender for the Asian Cup title. Their best performance was a fourth place finish in the 2011 tournament.

Asian Cup record
AFC Asian Cup Record AFC Asian Cup qualification
Hosts / Year Result Position GP W D* L GS GA GP W D* L GS GA
1996Group Stage10th310236 ------
2000Group Stage12th3012214 ------
2004Quarter-Finals6th431052 ------
2007Quarter-Finals7th4202104 ------
2011Fourth Place4th63121013 ------
2015Quarter-Finals8th420255 ------
2019Round of 1610th420273 ------
2023 To be determined To be determined
Total7/74th28124114247 ------

1996 Asian Cup in the UAE
Main article: 1996 AFC Asian Cup

It was Uzbekistan's first ever appearance in the AFC Asian Cup, since the demise of USSR. In the tournament, although being regarded as the weakest team, Uzbekistan surprised all predictions by defeating China 2–0 right on their opening account. Uzbekistan, however, lost two remaining matches to Japan and Syria, thus had to end up in the group stage. Uzbekistan's maiden victory over China, however, remained as the biggest achievement for Uzbekistan before 2004.

Group C
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Japan 9330071+6
 China PR 33102330
 Syria 3310236−3
 Uzbekistan 3310236−3
China PR 0–2 Uzbekistan
Report Shkvyrin  78'
Shatskikh  90'
Attendance: 3,000
Japan 4–0 Uzbekistan
Nanami  7'
Miura  37'
Maezono  86', 90'		 Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Jalal Moradi (Iran)
Uzbekistan 1–2 Syria
Lebedev  53' (pen.) Report Jokhadar  48'
Dib  74'
Attendance: 2,000

2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon
Main article: 2000 AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan made their second appearance by participating in the 2000 edition held in Lebanon. However, this would have become Uzbekistan's worst performance in their history, drew just one and lost two matches, both were humiliating 1–8 and 0–5 demolitions on the hand of Japan (they already lost 0–4 four years ago) and Saudi Arabia.

Group C
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Japan 73210133+10
 Saudi Arabia 4311164+2
 Qatar 33030220
 Uzbekistan 13012214−12
Qatar 1–1 Uzbekistan
Gholam  61' Report Qosimov  73'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Mohd Nazri Abdullah (Malaysia)
Japan 8–1 Uzbekistan
Morishima  7'
Nishizawa  14', 25', 49'
Takahara  18', 20', 57'
Kitajima  79'		 Report Lushan  29'
Attendance: 2,000
Saudi Arabia 5–0 Uzbekistan
Al-Otaibi  18'
Al-Shalhoub  35', 78', 86'
Al-Temyat  88'		 Report
Attendance: 2,000

2004 Asian Cup in China
Main article: 2004 AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan participated in the Asian Cup 2004 held in China, and it would have marked their historical milestones. The White Wolves was drawn with neighboring Turkic Turkmenistan, and two Arab teams Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the latter was the runners-up last edition. Uzbekistan, however, performed better than expected. Uzbekistan defeated all three teams with the result 1–0, to qualify for the knockout stage first time, and also the only time they topped group with full nine points. The White Wolves had to end their journey after losing to Bahrain in a penalty shootout.

Group C
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Uzbekistan 9330030+3
 Iraq 6320154+1
 Turkmenistan 1301246−2
 Saudi Arabia 1301235−2
Iraq 0–1 Uzbekistan
Report Qosimov  21'
Attendance: 12,400
Uzbekistan 1–0 Saudi Arabia
Geynrikh  13' Report
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)
Turkmenistan 0–1 Uzbekistan
Report Qosimov  58'
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Mohammed Kousa (Syria)

Quarter-finals
Uzbekistan 2–2 (a.e.t.) Bahrain
Geynrikh  60'
Shishelov  86'		 Report A. Hubail  71', 76'
Penalties
Fyodorov
Djeperov
Geynrikh
Bikmoev
Koshelev 		3–4 Ali
Juma
Baba
Farhan
A. Hubail
Attendance: 18,000

2007 Asian Cup in Indonesia/Malaysia/Thailand/Vietnam
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan would have continued their participation by placing themselves in Group C together with host Malaysia, latest runners-up China and giant Iran. Having been drawn into a tough group with only Malaysia as a point basket, very few people expected Uzbekistan to do something but three points. Uzbekistan eventually lost 1–2 in their opening account against Iran, before demolished Malaysia 5–0. However, in the last match against China, Uzbekistan successfully repeated their feat at 1996, this time, in an even more glorious way by crushing China 3–0. This surprising victory enabled Uzbekistan to the quarter-finals twice while eliminated China from the tournament.[1]

In the quarter-finals, Uzbekistan once again lost to another Arab team, this time, to Saudi Arabia, after 90 minutes with a 1–2 loss and had to go home.

Group C
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group C
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Iran 321063+37
 Uzbekistan 320192+76
 China PR 311176+14
 Malaysia 3003112−110
Iran 2–1 Uzbekistan
Hosseini  55'
Kazemian  78'		 Report Rezaei  16' (o.g.)
Attendance: 1,863
Uzbekistan 5–0 Malaysia
Shatskikh  10', 89'
Kapadze  30'
Bakayev  45+2' (pen.)
Ibrahimov  85'		 Report
Attendance: 7,137
Uzbekistan 3–0 China PR
Shatskikh  72'
Kapadze  86'
Geynrikh  90+4'		 Report
Attendance: 2,200

Quarter-finals
Saudi Arabia 2–1 Uzbekistan
Y. Al-Qahtani  3'
Al-Mousa  75'		 Report Solomin  82'
Attendance: 12,000

2011 Asian Cup in Qatar
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan's participation in the 2011 edition was considered as the most successful to date. Placing in group A with host Qatar, old rival China and Kuwait, the Uzbeks showed to be tough when they beat host Qatar 2–0 and Kuwait 2–1. Although could not repeat the feat of four years ago with China when they drew 2–2, Uzbekistan was still able to qualify into the quarter-finals. In there, Uzbekistan for the first time, to win a match in the knockout round, beating another fellow underdog Jordan 2–1. However, Uzbekistan's semi-final match would have turned to be a nightmare when they lost 0–6 to Australia, shattered their dream to go for their maiden final.[2] In the third place match, Uzbekistan continued losing 2–3 to South Korea, and got their best ever position in Asian Cup history: fourth place.

Group A
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Uzbekistan 321063+37
 Qatar 320152+36
 China PR 31114404
 Kuwait 300317−60
7 January 2011
Qatar 0–2 Uzbekistan
12 January 2011
Uzbekistan 2–1 Kuwait
16 January 2011
China PR 2–2 Uzbekistan

Quarter-finals
Uzbekistan 2–1 Jordan
Bakayev  47', 49' Report B. Bani Yaseen  58'
Attendance: 16,073

Semi-finals
Uzbekistan 0–6 Australia
Report Kewell  5'
Ognenovski  35'
Carney  65'
Emerton  73'
Valeri  82'
Kruse  83'
Attendance: 24,826

Third place play-off
Uzbekistan 2–3 South Korea
Geynrikh  45' (pen.), 53' Report Koo Ja-Cheol  18'
Ji Dong-Won  28', 39'
Attendance: 8,199

2015 Asian Cup in Australia
Main article: 2015 AFC Asian Cup

Their participation in 2015 Asian Cup was not considered to be too successful. Uzbekistan, placed with North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia, was expected to make up into the semi-finals. Uzbekistan, said, needed to play all three matches to secure their ticket to the knockout stage. First, they beat North Korea 1–0[3] but they lost to China, for the first time in the Asian Cup, 1–2, despite had taken the lead. Uzbekistan had to fight hard to win 3–1 over Saudi Arabia, eventually booked their ticket to the knockout stage facing South Korea.[4]

In the match against North Korea's cousin, South Korea, which was the repeat of third place match before, the Uzbeks were more resilience, and goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov had played an astonishing match to keep the match into the extra time. The Koreans proved to be stronger when they scored two goals, effectively eliminated Uzbekistan from the tournament. Ironically, Uzbekistan started by defeating North Korea, and had to end their journey under hand of another Korea, South Korea.

Group B
Main article: 2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  China PR 3 3 0 0 5 2 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Saudi Arabia 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
4  North Korea 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: Asian Cup Australia 2015
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
10 January 2015
Uzbekistan 1–0 North KoreaStadium Australia, Sydney
14 January 2015
China PR 2–1 UzbekistanBrisbane Stadium, Brisbane
18 January 2015
Uzbekistan 3–1 Saudi ArabiaAAMI Park, Melbourne

Quarter-finals
South Korea 2–0 (a.e.t.) Uzbekistan
Son Heung-min  104', 120' Report
Attendance: 23,381

2019 Asian Cup in the UAE
Main article: 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Uzbekistan joined group F with Japan, Oman and 2004 rival, neighboring Turkmenistan. For the Uzbeks, they were looking for their maiden final, and Uzbekistan's successful victory in 2018 AFC U-23 Championship was believed to be the boost for the White Wolves in such a tough group.

Under guidance of Héctor Cúper, who coached Egypt in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Uzbekistan won against Oman and Turkmenistan, their first two matches, before falling to Japan in the last match that saw Uzbekistan occupied second place in the group. Thus, the defeat to Japan forced Uzbekistan to face Australia, whom they lost disastrously 0–6 eight years ago and also the champions of previous edition. This time, Uzbekistan played better and more organized, thus forcing the match into penalty shootout, but Australia eventually overcame the White Wolves 4–2, thus ended Uzbekistan's campaign in sad note.

Group F
Main article: 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 3 3 0 0 6 3 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6
3  Oman 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4  Turkmenistan 3 0 0 3 3 10 −7 0
Source: AFC
Uzbekistan 2–1 Oman
 Report
Attendance: 9,424
Turkmenistan 0–4 Uzbekistan
Report
Attendance: 4,354
Japan 2–1 Uzbekistan
 Report
Attendance: 7,005

Round of sixteen
Australia 0–0 (a.e.t.) Uzbekistan
Report
Penalties
 4–2
Attendance: 6,809

References
  1. "China ousted after losing 0-3 to Uzbekistan". www.chinadaily.com.cn.
  2. "Australia beats Uzbekistan 6-0 to reach first Asian Cup final" – via The Globe and Mail.
  3. Skene, Patrick (January 12, 2015). "Enigmatic Uzbekistan reveal Asian Cup threat | Patrick Skene" – via www.theguardian.com.
  4. "Asian Cup: Uzbekistan 3-1 Saudi Arabia | Match report". January 18, 2015 – via www.theguardian.com.
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