Dilshod Rakhmatov bagged a brace as hosts Uzbekistan guaranteed their qualification for the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship as Group A table-toppers after a 2-1 victory over Central Asian neighbours Kyrgyzstan at Uzbekistan Stadium on Friday.
After a cagey opening period it was Uzbekistan who finally broke the deadlock a second before the interval through Rakhmatov before he then notched his double shortly after the interval.
Kyrgyzstan pulled one back late on through Alimov Maksadbek but Uzbekistan held out to win the group with a game to spare after Lebanon and Saudi Arabia played out a 3-3 draw in Friday’s other Group A encounter.
