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.
UN Chinese Language Day celebrated in Tunisia
Chinese Woman Takes Peru's 'Alpacas' to International Import Expo
Xinjiang Story: Young Teacher Lights Path to Better Education for Rural Children
Policies yield key results in Xiong'an
Map reveals where headless torso and further human remains have been found by locals in Salford
Peng Yan Leads Team in Developing USVs
Helping Women Villagers Embroider Better Lives
Top Chinese diplomat meets WPK delegation in Beijing
King and Queen jet back to London for public
Top Chinese diplomat meets WPK delegation in Beijing
Chinese business group 'shocked, dissatisfied' over EU raids on Chinese company
Interview: Hangzhou Asian Games one of the best events: Kuwaiti gold medalist