FOOTBALL – Bahrain's under-20 women’s football national team suffered a heavy 0-8 loss to their counterparts from Uzbekistan last night in their opening match of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Six players were on target for the Uzbeks, who are hosting the matches in qualification’s Group G.
The Bahrainis are making their debut in this qualifying competition for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) junior women’s event, which is scheduled to take place next year in Thailand.
Shodieva Etibor spearheaded Uzbekistan with a brace, while also finding the net were Bakhtiyarova Diyora, Mamatkulova Dilnura, Saydabbosova Rukhshona, Shovkatova Madina, and Dekanbaeva Shahnoza.
Bahrain’s Ameena Hamad Aldoseri had an own goal.
The Bahrainis, coached by Khaled Al Harban, are back in action tomorrow at Do’stlik Stadium in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. They are set to face Jordan at 3.30pm. They then play their concluding game against Northern Mariana Islands on Sunday, again at 3.30pm. Both times are Bahrain.
Etibor put Uzbekistan ahead after only four minutes. She brilliantly evaded Bahrain’s Jawaher Khaled Leqmani and then squeezed the ball into the net between opposing goalkeeper Dhuwa Naser Alfaihani and the left post.
Diyora then made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute with a lightly hit volley in front of goal off a cross from the right by Aminjonova Asalkhon. Six minutes later, Mamatkulova Dilnura added a volley after a brilliant display of dribbling and a precision cross from Asalkhon.
The Uzbeks continued to pressure Bahrain and Etibor tapped the ball in the 35th minute after Alfaihani failed to control a high cross into the box from Sayfiddinova Nazira. That helped them take a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.
After the re-start, Rukhshona scored in the 55th minute, guiding the ball home from the face of goal off a low cross from fellow-substitute Shahnoza. Bahrain’s Aldoseri then had an own goal after inadvertently sending in a cross by Uzbekistan’s Turgunova Oydinoy.
Madina made it 7-0 in the 77th minute after a corner kick delivered by Asalkhon went uncleared. Shahnoza then fired in the game’s final goal just a minute later with a fine individual effort from inside the box.
Bahrain are one of 32 under-20 women’s national teams vying for a place in the AFC competition. The qualifying field has been divided into eight groups of four, with each being played at a centralised location.
The AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will feature 12 teams in all, with the Thais getting an automatic place as hosts. The winners of each qualification group plus the three best-placed runners-up will join them in the tournament finals.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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