Favourites Uzbekistan made a flying start to their Group A campaign of the AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers as they dished out a crushing 7-0 defeat to Bhutan at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The formidable Uzbeks initially struggled to impose their authority over the opposition but seemed to have found their rhythm right before the first-half whistle when defender Gofurov Husniddin gave his side the lead following a Sukhrob Nurulloev free-kick.
Midfielder Sharof Mukhitdinov soon made it 2-0 when he converted a penalty.
Uzbekistan continued their goal-scoring spree in the second half when Kodirkulov Sanjar extended the lead in the 55th minute.
Striker Abdixolikov Bobir netted a quickfire brace after coming off the bench in the second half. Substitute midfielder Davlatjonov added another in the 88th minute before Tukhtasinov completed the rout from a free-kick moments away from the final whistle.