Dilshod Rakhmatov and Farkhod Abdumavlyanov scored as Uzbekistan secured third place at the AFC Futsal Championship with a 2-1 victory over Kuwait at Phu Tho Stadium on Saturday.

Rakhmatov took advantage of a slip from Ahmad Al Farsi to hand Uzbekistan, who lost their semi-final 10-0 to Iran, the lead at half-time.

Abdumavlyanov doubled Uzbekistan’s advantage in the second half, and despite Hamad Al Awadhi setting up a tense finish, Bahodir Ahmedov’s side held on.

With Iran having ended Uzbekistan hopes and Japan having beaten Kuwait in the semi-finals, both sides went closing to opening the scoring early on in the first half as Abdulrahman Al Taweel shot into the side netting for Kuwait before Abdumavlyanov wasted a good opportunity for Uzbekistan.

But after Artur Yunusov then hit the post for Uzbekistan, the Central Asians eventually found the breakthrough on 11 minutes as Al Farsi conceded possession close to the half way line allowing Rakhmatov to race clear and he slid the ball under goalkeeper Hani Mhisen.

Kuwait, though, were handed a golden chance to equalise in the 15th minute after Rakhmatov brought down Hamad Al Wadhi inside the penalty area.

But goalkeeper Klim Tyugayev, who was brought on as a penalty specialist, pulled off a stunning double save after first blocking Al Whadhi’s initial penalty with his feet before blocking the follow up from Abdulaziz Al Basam.

And Uzbekistan nearly doubled their lead two minutes before half-time as Yunusov was played clean through only to hit the post after beating a stranded Mhisen.

Kuwait had the first chance after the break as Abdulrahman Al Wadi shot wide before Rakhmatov shot agonisingly wide for Uzbekistan.

With just nine minutes left Kuwait coach Luis Fonseca pushed for an equaliser by replacing goalkeeper Mhisen with outfield player Al Wadi.

But the move almost backfired seconds later as Yunusov was found on the break by Shuhrat Tojiboev only to fire wide with an open goal gaping.

Stand-in goalkeeper Al Wadi then pulled off a fantastic double save to keep his side within touching distance after Yunusov hadfound Abdumavlyanov open inside the area.

Uzbekistan, though, did double their lead from the resulting corner as Abdumavlyanov chipped his close range effort over the head of Mhisen from Tojiboev’s delivery.

But Kuwait set-up a tense final five minutes as Al Awadhi’s strike trickled into the far corner of the goal via the upright.

Kuwait, though, were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages and Uzbekistan claimed third place.

According to AFC