Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan national team staged a heroic performance to win the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final in Saudi Arabia, defeating the hosts 2–0 on Sunday despite being reduced to nine men.

Uzbekistan showed incredible resilience after losing two players to red cards in the first half and lifted the coveted trophy for the second time in its history—the first being in 2012.

Saudi Arabia created the first real threat in the 8th minute when Abdurrahman Sufyani set up Abdulhadi Matari, whose low shot was confidently saved by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Nematollo Rustamjonov.

Uzbekistan gradually began to take control, but only managed half-chances—shots from Nurbek Sarsenbayev and two attempts by Abubakir Shukhrillaev did little to trouble Saudi keeper Abdurrahman Al-Utaibi.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 40th minute when a clash on the sideline between Sarsenbayev and Adel Hibah ended with the Uzbek player kicking his opponent while on the ground, earning a straight red card.

Things worsened for the Central Asian side in first-half stoppage time when Miraziz Abdukarimov committed a last-man foul on Sabri Dahale and was also sent off, leaving Uzbekistan with just nine players.

Despite the disadvantage, Uzbekistan came out in the second half with renewed determination and continued to press forward.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 51st minute after a VAR review confirmed a handball by Yazid Al-Dosari inside the box. Muhammad Hakimov stepped up and calmly converted the penalty.

Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer, but close-range efforts from Tari Said, Sufyani, and Mukhtar Barnawi were all blocked by Uzbekistan’s resolute defense.

The King Fahd Stadium was stunned in the 70th minute when Sadreddin Khasanov launched a rapid counterattack down the left flank, dribbled past Alwaleed Aloufi, and fired past Al-Utaibi to seal a sensational and historic victory for Uzbekistan.