Uzbekistan U17 beat Croatia 4-3 on penalties to advance to the round of 16.
Coach Islombek Ismoilov's decision to substitute goalkeeper in the 87th minute proved to be a turning point: Rustajonov saved Raul Kumar's fourth penalty, helping Uzbekistan U17 defeat Croatia U17 4-3 on penalties and advance to the round of 16, where they will face Italy.
Uzbekistan U17 pulled off a shock victory in the tournament, defeating Croatia U17 4-3 on penalties after conceding a late equalizer. The biggest moment came in the 87th minute: Coach Islombek Ismoilov substituted goalkeeper Ibrokhim Shorikov with Rustajonov for the penalty shootout – a decision that subsequently proved key to the win.
Match summary: An early opening goal and a late counter-attack.
Both teams started at a fast pace. Croatia U17 created an early opportunity with a close-range header from Kumar, but Ibrokhim Shokirov made a good save. Conversely, Abdulmalik Anvarov made a spectacular save against a shot from Matej Grahovac.
The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute: from the right wing, Sayfiddin Sodikov combined with a teammate and delivered a perfect cross for Sadriddin Khasanov to head the ball into the net, giving Uzbekistan U17 the lead.
In the second half, Asilbek Aliev nearly doubled the lead with a dangerous free-kick, forcing Grahovac to make a diving save. Unable to seal the victory, Uzbekistan paid the price with only 10 minutes remaining in regular time: Gabrijel Sivalec's close-range header was blocked, the ball rebounded, and Tino Kusanovic pounced on the rebound to score, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
The decisive moment: A goalkeeper substitution in the 87th minute and a pivotal save.
Anticipating a penalty shootout, coach Islombek Ismoilov substituted Ibrokhim Shorikov and placed his trust in Rustajonov in the 87th minute. His bold move paid off: in Croatia's fourth penalty kick, Rustajonov made a precise save, blocking Raul Kumar's shot. Ultimately, Uzbekistan U17 won 4-3 on penalties.
Tactical angle: Sharp right wing, set pieces make a difference.
Uzbekistan proactively exploited the right flank, where Sodikov possessed speed and accurate crossing ability – directly leading to Khasanov's opening goal. In set pieces, Aliev posed a constant threat with a free kick that forced Grahovac to make a save.
On Croatia's side, their ability to apply pressure at the end of the match proved effective, with Sivalec and Kusanovic present in the penalty area. However, when the match went into penalty shootout, the psychological advantage went to Uzbekistan after a highly tactical decision to change goalkeeper, and Rustajonov performed brilliantly.
Notable statistics
- Uzbekistan opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from Sadriddin Khasanov following an assist from Sayfiddin Sodikov.
- Croatia equalized with just 10 minutes remaining in regular time, thanks to Tino Kusanovic's rebound goal.
- In the 87th minute, coach Islombek Ismoilov substituted the goalkeeper, bringing Rustajonov onto the field for the penalty shootout.
- Rustajonov saved Raul Kumar's fourth penalty, giving Uzbekistan a 4-3 victory on penalties.
Impact: Round of 16 tickets and the Italian challenge
The victory propelled the Uzbekistan U17 team into the Round of 16 of the 2025 U17 World Cup, where they will face Italy – the reigning European U17 champions. Uzbekistan's best performance in this tournament was reaching the quarter-finals in 2011 and 2023. To reach that milestone again, Islombek Ismoilov's team will need an exceptionally outstanding performance against Italy.
