Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 after defeating Iraq 4-1 in their Group B tie at the Bangkok Arena on Friday.

Uzbekistan top the standings on six points with Iraq second, with the Central Asian side to take on Saudi Arabia in their final group fixture on Sunday. Iraq will play winless Australia. 

It could have been different for Iraq had they not squandered several early opportunities, with Haedr Majed’s angled volley from just outside the box being blocked by Uzbekistan keeper Abbos Elmurodov, who later twice foiled Salim Faisal.
 
Iraq keeper Zaher Mahdi sprung into action in the third minute when his quick thinking kept Uzbekistan at bay from a set-piece situation which saw Khusniddin Nishonov collecting the ball from Ilkhomjon Khamroev at the edge of the box before seeing his effort blocked.
 
Mustafa Ihsan had the perfect opportunity to put Iraq ahead in the seventh minute when Elmurodov’s long throw found an unmarked Ihsan lurking inside the box, who chested the ball down before unleashing a volleyed attempt which grazed the right post.

It was Uzbekistan, however, who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when Akbar Usmonov pounced on Mahdi’s failed attempt at saving Abbos’s powerful drive from distance, slotting home from close range.
 
Iraq activated the powerplay shortly but it didn’t pay off as Mashrab Adilov intercepted Faisal’s poor pass from inside his own half before burying a long range effort into an unattended goal.

Iraq conceded again in the 26th minute to a well-crafted team effort with Ilkhomjon Khamroev at the centre of the move, setting up Elbek Tulkinov to slot past an advancing Abbos.

Uzbekistan turned on the power in the 28th minute with Sunatulla Juraev weaving his way through the Iraq defence with the assistance of Adilov before tucking home the fourth goal.
 
Iraq continued to utilise the powerplay and were finally rewarded in the 28th minute following Majed’s shot from distance which bounced off the post and into the net.