Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan began the defence of their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ title on a positive note after they defeated Yemen 1-0 in their opening Group C match at China 2025 on Thursday.

Muhammadali Urinboev’s powerful header in the first half proved to be the only difference between the two sides in a closely fought contest at Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1.

Uzbekistan seized the initiative from the get go with Abdugafur Haydarov firing a shot from an acute angle inside the box in the 12th minute, which saw the  ball bounce off the post.

Urinboev was put through on goal in the 26th minute but Yemen keeper Osama Mokreh did well to push the ball away but the danger wasn’t cleared just yet.

Uzbekistan recycled the ball with Ollabergan Karimov allowed time and space to float a cross into the box for Urinboev to thunder a header against the underside of the crossbar before landing over the line to put the Central Asian side ahead.

Yemen struggled to test Uzbekistan custodian Muhammadyusf Sobirov and had Mokreh to thank for keeping the deficit narrow after he pulled off a stunning save to stop Haydarov’s powerful long range effort.

The West Asians looked a different side after the interval with Adel Abbas and Abdulaziz Masnom combining well up front as Yemen started to put the Uzbekistan defence under pressure.

In the 67th minute, Masnom broke down the right and found Abbas in the box but the latter scuffed his effort before a carbon copy play a minute later saw Abbas unable to get his shot on target from the centre of the box as Uzbekistan took the win.

Next up for Uzbekistan are Indonesia while Yemen will take on Islamic Republic of Iran, with both matches to be played on Sunday.