Uzbekistan’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match ended in a 3-1 defeat to Colombia on June 18, but the game still delivered a historic moment as Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the national team’s first goal at a World Cup.
The Group K encounter at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium marked Uzbekistan’s long-awaited debut on football’s biggest stage after becoming the first Central Asian nation to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.
Colombia opened the scoring five minutes before halftime when Daniel Munoz converted a cross from Luis Diaz. Uzbekistan responded after the break and found an equaliser on the hour mark, with Fayzullaev reacting quickest inside the penalty area to head home a rebound.
However, just five minutes later, Díaz restored Colombia’s advantage before Jaminton Campaz added a third goal late in the match to seal a 3-1 victory for the South Americans.
Despite the result, Uzbekistan showed resilience throughout the contest and came close on several occasions, hitting the woodwork twice.
Ahead of the match, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered state institutions to begin work at 10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. With kick-off scheduled for 7:00 a.m. Uzbekistan time on 18 June, the move gave supporters additional time to watch the early-morning fixture with family and friends.
Messages of encouragement also came from foreign leaders visiting Tashkent for the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum.
During meetings with President Mirziyoyev, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev congratulated Uzbekistan on its historic World Cup qualification and expressed support for the national team.
Statistics showed Colombia held the advantage for much of the contest, enjoying 61% possession and registering 15 shots compared with Uzbekistan’s eight.
Elsewhere in Group K, Portugal and DR Congo played out a 1-1 draw, leaving Colombia top of the group after the opening round of matches.
Uzbekistan will now turn its attention to its second World Cup fixture against Portugal on 23 June as the White Wolves look to secure their first points of the tournament.
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