On April 29, Beijing time, in the semifinals of the U23 Asian Cup, the dark horse Indonesia faced the last runner-up Uzbekistan. Kusa took the lead, Ardukdil made an own goal, Ramadani dyed red, and Uzbekistan defeated 10-man Indonesia 2-0, reaching the final for the second consecutive time and qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time in history. Indonesia will face the loser of Japan and Iraq in the other semi-final, for a third Olympic ticket.
Indonesia was the biggest surprise of the tournament, winning three consecutive victories as a dark horse, knocking out Australia and South Korea to enter the semi-finals, creating the best result in the Asian Cup, becoming the only team in the semi-finals that did not win the tournament. Indonesia won 3 and lost 1 in the first four games, scoring 7 goals in regulation time, and the team's strong attacking ability is the team's biggest highlight, but at the same time, the five goals conceded at the defensive end also exposed its inconsistent side. After seeing off favourites South Korea in the first knockout round, the team's form and morale are at their peak, and they are just one step away from their first Olympic journey.
Uzbekistan, on the other hand, have been more relaxed on their way to qualification, scoring 12 goals without conceding a goal in four consecutive wins, and their offensive and defensive performances can only be described as perfect. Especially after eliminating Saudi Arabia in the previous game to avenge the defeat in the last final, the whole team is already in peak condition and has become the biggest favorite to win the championship this year.
Uzbekistan showed strong control to quickly gain the advantage on the field, continuing to press on both wings, but there were not many opportunities to penetrate the penalty area, and more attempts to open up the situation with long-range shots. Faizulaev cut inside from outside the box on the left side in the fourth minute and fired wide of the goal. Then Urubek went straight from the right, and Olilov stepped forward into the box and fired wide.
Indonesia have been heavily deployed in the low post, doing a relatively good job of compressing the space of the opponent's attack, and rarely allowing attackers to penetrate into the box. The team is more concise in attack up front, with a quick shot. Relying on the attacker's excellent one-man breakthrough ability to constantly attack on the left side, winger Suleiman broke through on the left and rushed into the bottom of the penalty area to be destroyed.
In the middle of the half, the two sides attacked and defended each other, Uzbekistan fiercely pressed to get the ball in front, and Umali dribbled to the top of the arc and shot slightly wide of the goal from a distance under the cover of many people. Indonesia quickly counterattacked, Suleiman was intercepted by Ardukdil when he broke through the box on the left, and the referee reviewed VAR and cancelled a direct free kick to Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan pressed up front, and the team's most valuable Faizulaev made a series of clever passes, and in the 29th minute, Abdullaev hit the crossbar with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, creating the team's closest chance to score in the half. In the 33rd minute, Faizulaev sent the ball into the penalty area with a clever cross, and Khorzhmatt's header was saved.
Indonesia's attacking transition was quick, but it was affected by the low post defence, and the overall formation was backward, which made it easier for the opponent to intercept and could not break into the third area of the box for a long time. He had two shots on goal in the entire half. Uzbekistan, on the other hand, was solid in attack and defence, with a particularly strong ability to control, with more than 60% possession in the half, producing 11 shots on goal and hitting the woodwork once.
Uzbekistan made two substitutions in the second half and played around in front of the penalty area with stronger suppression, but it was not easy to break through the iron bucket formation, and continued to try to break the game with long-range shots. Faizulaev's long-range shot was blocked by the opposition, Odilov's shot from the right side of the box went wide of the far corner, and Gasbeck's ultra-long-range volley grazed the goal.
Indonesia was very passive, but withstood the onslaught of the opponent with strong pressure resistance, and played a quick counterattack to create set-piece opportunities in front, Rifayi made a long pass from the left, and Mohammed burst into the top corner in front of the small penalty area. However, the referee reviewed the video and ruled that Salata, who had provided the assist, was offside and the goal was invalidated.
In the 68th minute, Hamlaryev's long pass from the right flank found between the two central defenders, Kussain outflanked and followed up the goal, and the perfect connection of the two substitutes created the goal. Uzbekistan, the leading Uzbekistan, was on top when Gasbek fired a long-range shot from the middle that bounced off the post and Kusa hit the crossbar with a pinpoint header from Faizulaev.
Ramadani was sent off for a malicious stampede in the 82nd minute, Gasbeck took a free kick and the heavy shot was saved, Ardukdil's follow-up shot hit the post and bounced back, and Rifai's clearance in front of the goal accidentally put himself in an own goal. Indonesia, with one less person, collapsed.
In the 16th minute of stoppage time, Uzbekistan hit the post twice to end Uzbekistan's 2-0 Indonesia, reach the Asian Cup final for the third time, and successfully qualify for the Paris Olympics. Uzi had 25 shots on goal with 4 on target and 5 on the woodwork. Indonesia had 4 shots on goal with 0 on target.
Indonesia will still have a chance of qualifying for the Olympics after reaching the semi-finals, and a win in the third-place race will give them a direct ticket to Paris in third place in the Asian Cup, and even if they only finish fourth, they can also compete in the play-offs against Guinea for the final Olympic spot.