Saudi Arabia’s dreams of capturing a third U17 Asian Cup title were dashed on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in the final at the King Fahd Sports City in Taif. Despite dominating much of the match and benefiting from two first-half red cards against Uzbekistan, the hosts were unable to convert their numerical advantage into a win.

The loss marks a 37-year wait for Saudi Arabia to claim their third U17 title, as Uzbekistan triumphed in a tense match to secure their second continental crown, repeating their 2012 success. The match was a dramatic affair, with the Central Asians battling through adversity to secure victory.

Early Red Cards Handed to Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan faced a difficult first half, losing two key players before the break. The first red card came in the 40th minute when Nurbek Sarsenbaev was sent off for kicking out at Saudi Arabia’s Adel Hibah while on the ground. Moments before halftime, Uzbekistan suffered another setback, as Miraziz Abdukarimov received a second yellow card for a last-ditch tackle on Sabri Dahal, reducing the team to nine players.

At this point, it seemed as though Saudi Arabia would capitalize on the numerical advantage, but the scoreline remained level heading into the second half.

Uzbekistan Breaks the Deadlock

The second half started with a shock, as Uzbekistan took the lead despite being down to nine men. In the 55th minute, a ball bounced up in the penalty area and Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Dosari was adjudged to have handled the ball after a VAR review. Referee decisions gave Uzbekistan a penalty kick, which Mukhammad Khakimov confidently converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Khasanov Seals Victory for Uzbekistan

As Saudi Arabia pressed forward in search of an equalizer, Uzbekistan capitalized on the counter. In the 70th minute, Sadriddin Khasanov broke free from Saudi defender Al Waleed Al-Awfi and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi to double Uzbekistan’s lead. The goal sealed the win and left Saudi Arabia with little time to mount a comeback.

Despite their best efforts, Saudi Arabia could not break through a resilient Uzbek defense, and the final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for Uzbekistan.

A Bitter Loss for Saudi Arabia

The loss was a bitter disappointment for Saudi Arabia, who had battled their way through a tough tournament. The team had required penalties to get past Japan in the quarterfinals and South Korea in the semifinals. However, fatigue may have played a factor in the final, as Uzbekistan had a smoother run to the final, breezing through their knockout-stage matches against the UAE and North Korea.

Though the defeat stings, Saudi Arabia can find solace in their qualification for the upcoming U17 World Cup later this year in Qatar, where they will look to bounce back from this setback.

Uzbekistan’s win marks a historic moment for the team, who will now look to build on this success as they prepare for future challenges on the international stage.