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. |
Gantz and Israel's War Cabinet raise pressure on NetanyahuChina sanctions Boeing, two U.S. defense contractors for Taiwan arms salesSolar sector shrugs off tariff actionRCEP to bring more vitality and certaintyChina eases int'l travel to meet outbound tourism demandChina is source of growth and innovation: says Danone CEOJim Otto, 'Mr. Raider' and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86McDonald's unveils budgetCeline Dion shares RARE snap with twin sons Nelson and Eddy, 13 and eldest ReneEva Longoria is sheer perfection in see