Uzbekistan matched the benchmark they set at Turkey 2013 by booking their spot in the last eight, with two goals shortly after the break catching the Europeans cold and seeing Ravshan Khaydarov’s side upset the odds.

The first half would not have exhausted anyone’s vocabulary of superlatives as neither side brought a great deal of quality to the party. The closest either side came to unsettling the netting was when a curling free-kick from Austria captain Lukas Gugganig was punched clear by Dilshod Khamraev, FIFA.com reported.

Zabikhillo Urinboev saw his goal-bound volley deflected wide just before the break but, besides that, the highlight reel was left wanting. When the sides returned though, the Central Asian side seemed to have discovered a formula for unlocking the Austrian backline.

Two minutes hadn’t even passed when Khamdamov latched on to Javokhir Sokhibov’s through-ball to slot effortlessly beyond Tino Casali. Ten minutes later he had doubled his tally for the night and Austria, who hadn’t been troubled by much more than an awkward corner in the first 45 minutes, looked shell-shocked.

A hopeful up-and-under from Mirjamol Kosimov kept the ball alive following a corner, with superb strength from Rustamjon Ashurmatov seeing him hold off the defence and work space to volley onto the post. Khamdamov then had the simple task of slotting back across goal and the game had been transformed.

But for all the urgency Austria served up in hope of rescuing the game, they produced little. Khamraev was forced into a save by Markus Blutsch, before Jakob Kruezer threatened, but it was not the onslaught that could have been expected. In fact, Uzbekistan looked more likely to extend their lead, but Urinboev blazed over before Khurshid Giyosov forced Casali into a save. With no breakthrough for the Austrian’s coming, it ended as a famous win for the Uzbeks.