The Uzbek youngsters, who had defeated USA in their last outing, and Czech Republic, who beat New Zealand, set up for an intriguing final day of matches in Group D, Fifa.com reported.

With all four teams in the group entering the matchday level on three points, a win would prove absolutely vital for direct progression to the last 16. Both Uzbekistan and Czech Republic came out offensive minded, intensely battling to take the lead in such a crucial encounter.

Uzbekistan had the first real chance of the match when captain Abbosbek Makhstaliev fired a shot over the crossbar. The Czechs, unwillingly to sit back, responded just before the quarter of an hour mark through Lucas Julis, who was looking to net his second of the tournament, but his effort hit the post. The match switched from end to end with frenetic pace to make for a nervy contest, and Kholmurod Kholmurodov then saw his shot from 20 metres denied by the post as well.

Julis, keen on reliving the glory of scoring goal at these finals, found space in the Uzbekistan area, and his proceeding shot caught the hand of an Uzbek defender. And the striker made no mistake from the penalty spot, lifting the Europeans into the lead in the 23rd minute.

The Uzbek boys, for their part, were incredibly hungry to find an equaliser and pushed forward in rapid pace. Goalkeeper Lukas Zima, staying true to his stellar form between the sticks, denied Azizbek Muratov, who had received the ball in good position to take a clear shot. However, the mounting assault from Uzbekistan proved to be much before the break, as midfielder Azizbek served a fine pass within the area to Timur Khakimov, who levelled the score at 1-1.

Seemingly sparked by their late first-half equaliser, Uzbekistan were gunning for an unlikely finish atop Group D. While Czech Republic decided to use all three substitutes, the Uzbeks stuck with the same line-up from the first half until Davlatbek Yarbekov was brought on in the 71st minute. And just two minutes later, the change proved vital as the Uzbeks offensive style again paid off. Yarbekov sent a cross into the area and on-form skipper Makhstaliev hammered the youngsters to a historic victory in their first appearance at the finals.

As first-place finishers, Uzbekistan will take on one of the best third-place finishers in Torreon on 29 June, while USA and New Zealand, who are equal on points and goals, face a draw 20:45 (local time) at FIFA headquarters in Mexico City to determine their progression fates.