Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan showed their title credentials as they beat Kuwait 3-0 in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 quarter-final at the Saad Al Abdullah Hall on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan will face three-time champions Japan - who defeated Indonesia 3-2 earlier on Tuesday - in Thursday’s semi-final, the-afc.com reported.

Kuwait had a look at goal in the first minute with Abdulrahman Alwadi forcing his shot from just above the half-way line but it failed to reach the target.

The home side were put under pressure in the second minute when Uzbekistan threatened with Khusniddin Nishonov beating Kuwait keeper Mohammad Alhuzaim only to see his free-kick hit the bar.

Kuwait continued to weather Uzbekistan’s attacks with Alhuzaim comfortably collecting Akbar Usmonov’s drive from distance in the eighth minute before going for goal themselves, two minutes later through Saleh Alfadhel’s volley which sailed over the bar.

Uzbekistan’s perseverance was finally rewarded in the 14th minute when Anaskhon Rakhmatov unleashed a powerful volley, striking the ball into the back of the net from distance off Rakhmatov Dilshod’s corner.

The Central Asians were denied a goal moments later when Nishonov burst down the right flank before setting up Davron Choriev, whose drilled effort was scrambled to safety by Alhuzaim.

Kuwait once again flirted with danger in the 16th minute when a defensive lapse allowed Choriev to dribble his way past Alhuzaim only to see his shot denied by the post, while Abdulrahman Altawail failed to convert his effort three minutes later, sending his volley off target.

Alhuzaim saved Kuwait in the closing stages of the first half when he palmed away Choriev’s lob from outside the box to keep the home side in the game.

Uzbekistan didn’t give Kuwait a chance to settle when the second half took off as they doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Choriev (pictured above) dispossessed Altawail before striking the ball into the back of the net with Alhuzaim rooted.

Kuwait, desperate to get back into the game, initiated the power play but it backfired as they conceded a third goal with Ropiev Ikhtiyor combining well with Nishonov, who made a darting run before slotting home to confirm Uzbekistan’s last four slot.