In a one-sided encounter at the AFC Asian Cup 2023, Uzbekistan delivered a clinical performance, securing a convincing 3-0 victory over India on Thursday. The match, which saw India trailing by three goals at halftime, highlighted the stark difference in quality between the two teams.

India, coming off a 2-0 defeat to Australia in their opening match, faced a determined Uzbekistan side that had drawn against Syria in their previous encounter. Despite making some changes to the starting lineup, with Akash Mishra, Anirudh Thapa, and Naorem Mahesh Singh getting the nod, India found themselves on the back foot early in the game.

Uzbekistan took the lead in the third minute when Nasrulloev’s delivery from the left found Otabek Shukurov, who cleverly headed the ball into the danger area for Abbosbel Fayzullayev to convert. The White Wolves continued to exploit gaps in India’s midfield, with Shukurov testing goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and captain Masharipov hitting the post with a free-kick attempt.
An individual error by Rahul Bheke in the 18th minute led to Uzbekistan’s second goal, with Misharipov’s low-driven cross deflecting off Mishra and falling to Igor Sergeyev, who found the back of the net. India’s defensive vulnerabilities were further exposed as Nasrullaev tapped in the rebound to make it 3-0 before halftime.

Despite the disastrous start, India showed improvement in the second half, with Rahul KP striking the post and Sunil Chhetri missing a golden opportunity from the rebound. However, Uzbekistan’s well-organized defense, led by the impressive 19-year-old Khusanov, kept India at bay.

Uzbekistan comfortably secured the 3-0 victory, advancing closer to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. On the other hand, India’s chances of progressing to the last 16 took a severe hit with their second consecutive defeat.
The defeat underscores the challenges faced by India in the tournament and raises questions about their ability to navigate through to the next stage. As the AFC Asian Cup 2023 progresses, both teams will be closely watched to see how they respond in their upcoming matches.