Uzbekistan have qualified for the Round of 16 at the U-20 FIFA World Cup with a dominant display resulting in a 3-0 win over Fiji in Whangarei this afternoon.
Coming in to the contest, Uzbekistan needed several results to go their way to be secured of qualification, but their win doubled with Germany's 5-1 thrashing of Honduras saw the Asian side go through in second place from Group F on goal difference.
Fiji were outclassed throughout the game, with Uzbekistan peppering the Fijian goal with 19 attempts in the first half alone, although only three could find the target as shots were sprayed off the post and crossbar with regularity. The Fijian defence was also called into action to make several last-gasp blocks to keep the score level at the break.
After 24 shot attempts, Uzbekistan's dominance finally paid dividends, with it taking a goalkeeping howler of epic proportions for the deadlock to be broken in the 62nd minute. A soft, looping header from Eldor Shomurodov went straight through the hands of Fijian custodian Misiwani Nairube in a goalkeeping error for the ages.
A minute later it was 2-0, with Shomurodov playing in Zabikhillo Urinboev who fired in a shot Nairube could only get a hand to, the ball ricocheting home to see Uzbekistan's passage into the knockout stage sealed.
