It was "Miracle of numerical inferiority." It beat 11 with nine.
Uzbekistan beat Saudi Arabia, the host country that beat South Korea after Japan, and won the 2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 (under 17) Asian Cup. Uzbekistan won the final match against Saudi Arabia 2-0 on the 21st (Korea time) after overcoming the bad news of two players being sent off in the first half alone at the King Pad Sports City Stadium in Taip, Saudi Arabia.
Uzbekistan, which won its first championship of the year in 2012, clinched its second championship trophy in 13 years. Uzbekistan defeated North Korea 3-0 in the semifinals to advance to the final.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, defeated Japan in the quarterfinals on June 13 and Korea in the semifinals on June 17, respectively. Saudi Arabia sought its third championship in 37 years since 1988, but failed at the summit.
Uzbekistan was unlucky to have two players sent off in the first half alone. In the 40th minute of the first half, striker Nurbek Sarsenbayev received his first red card. While falling entangled with Saudi Arabian left fullback Adel Hibach, he touched the face with his right foot. The Qatar-born referee brought out a red card to Sarsenbayev.
It wasn't the end. Uzbekistan was sent off for the second time in the 47th minute, the extra time in the first half. Right fullback Mirage Abdukkariemov tried to block Saudi Arabian striker Sabri Dahl, who was rushing straight ahead of the penalty arc, before crossing the fence. The referee ordered Abdukkariemov to leave, saying he had blocked a clear chance to score.
The score was 0-0 in the first half. It was difficult even with 10 players, but it was not easy to hold on to nine players. In fact, the race seemed to be leaning toward Saudi Arabia.
However, Uzbekistan's fighting spirit was astonishing. Uzbekistan took the lead in the sixth minute of the second half when Mukhammad Khakimov scored a left-footed shot from a penalty kick that was awarded for Saudi Arabia's handball violation.
Saudi Arabia's wave of attacks continued, but Uzbekistan rather scored an additional goal in the 25th minute of the second half. Sadridin Kasanov, who penetrated the left side in the counterattack, dug to the left of the goal area and scored an additional goal with a right footed shot to sink Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia led 59-41 in ball possession and 27-12 in the number of shots, but failed to open the goal in the end. Uzbekistan's Asilbek Aliyev, who scored five goals in this tournament, was the top scorer, and Kasanov (four goals), who was responsible for additional goals in the final, was named the MVP. 안전놀이터