DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Uzbekistan qualified for men’s Olympic soccer after years of near-misses by reaching the Under-23 Asian Cup final on Monday.
The Uzbeks beat Indonesia 2-0 in the semifinals and will face Japan in the final on Friday.
Japan secured an eighth consecutive Olympic appearance by defeating Iraq 2-1.
The top three teams qualify automatically for the Paris Games and Iraq and Indonesia will meet in Thursday’s playoff to decide the remaining place.
Uzbekistan has had an unlucky run. It won the biennial Asian tournament in the non-Olympic years of 2018 and 2022. In 2020, the team finished fourth, missing out on the Tokyo Games after losing the playoff against Australia.
There was no heartbreak this time. Khusain Norchaev scored midway through the second half and Pratama Arhan conceded an own goal four minutes from the end at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
3 Shanghai players score 20+points in win vs. Xinjiang
Sparking youthful passion for the stage
He refreshes China's national record at Wuxi Marathon
I know who killed Jill Dando, says her Crimewatch co
Azerbaijan urges top UN court to toss out Armenian case alleging racial discrimination
FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 men's quarterfinal match: China vs. Australia
La Liga returns with big game in Bernabeu
Israeli airstrike kills 14 in Gaza's refugee camp
Blooming cole flowers create water