Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Goals from Eldor Shomurodov and Rustamjon Ashurmatov earned Uzbekistan a 2-0 win over Hong Kong, China on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten start to the Preliminary Join Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Shomurodov and Ashurmatov scored in the 49th and 66th  minutes respectively at a sold-out Mongkok Stadium to earn Srecko Katanec’s side their second win in three games following a victory over Turkmenistan and a draw with the Islamic Republic of Iran in November.
 
The result moves the Central Asians onto seven points at the halfway stage in Group E and keeps them in a strong position to advance to the next phase of the preliminaries ahead of the return meeting with Jorn Andersen’s side in Tashkent on Tuesday.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead as early as the fourth minute when Cagliari striker Shomurodov, a constant menace to the home defence throughout, steered the ball over the goal line, but referee Kim Woo-sung deemed the final touch had come off his arm.
 
Soon after Yapp Hung Fai threw himself to his right to keep out Shomurodov’s goal-bound effort, making the first of several impressive saves during the 90 minutes to keep Hong Kong, China in contention.

Abdukodir Khusanov steered his volley over the bar from inside the penalty area in the 17th minute and Shomurodov went closer still four minutes later, seeing his shot hit Yapp’s left post with the striker released behind the defence by Jaloliddin Masharipov.
 
The home goalkeeper then made a fine double save to keep out Hojimat Erkinov, blocking the first attempt from close range before throwing his hand up to keep out an effort on the rebound. Shomurodov saw his follow-up attempt cleared off the line by Oliver Gerbig.

Abbosbek Fayzullayev, introduced at half-time for Erkinov, unlocked the home defence four minutes into the second half as Uzbekistan finally took the lead, his pass releasing Azizbek Turginboyev, whose centre found Shomurodov unmarked to tap in a yard from the line.
 
Umar Eshmurodov sent a flying volley over the bar before, in the 66th minute, the visitors doubled their lead when Ashurmatov emerged through the defence to rise over Yapp and nod in Masharipov’s pinpoint corner.

Substitute Michael Udebuluzor could only find the arms of Utkir Yusupov in a rare sight of goal for the home side with 12 minutes remaining while Yapp clawed Shomurodov’s late header out from under the crossbar as Uzbekistan took the points.