The hosts continued their impressive unbeaten run with an excellent 3-0 win over Iran, and Uzbekistan won by the same margin against fellow contenders Afghanistan, while Turkmenistan claimed their first points of the competition in the late match against Kyrgyz Republic.

The CAFA U-16 Championship Tajikistan, which serves as preparation for this year’s AFC U-16 Championship 2020 Qualifiers, sees each team play five 70-minute matches with the final round of games to be held on Thursday.

Hussaini’s goal - coupled with Tajikistan’s comfortable 3-0 win over Turkmenistan - helped the hosts move to the top of the standings on seven points, with only goal difference separating them from Afghanistan.

In Monday’s other match, Uzbekistan held off a fast-finishing Kyrgyz Republic to register their first win of the competition, which pits the region’s brightest young talents against each other over five 70-minute matches apiece in Dushanbe and Hisor.

Afghanistan overcame 38-degree heat to beat Turkmenistan 1-0, while Tajikistan produced a powerful second half to see off Kyrgyz Republic, before Iran earned a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan in the late match to remain in pole position after Matchday Two.

Each side in the CAFA U-16 Championship will play five 70-minute matches, with the winners to be crowned after the final Matchday on Thursday.

Hossein Abdi’s charges outlasted Turkmenistan to earn a 3-1 win, with Kyrgyz Republic’s match against Afghanistan and the headline clash between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan ending in entertaining draws.

Their lead, however, is only on goal difference as Australia and Thailand also recorded their second wins at the Institute of Physical Education in Chonburi, Thailand to ensure a thrilling tussle in Group B for the two semi-final spots.

Indonesia 3-0 Singapore

After defeating Vietnam 2-0 in their opening match, Indonesia continued their victorious march against Singapore. After coming close in the 16th minute when Kadek Arel Priyatna’s header from Marselino’s free-kick, screamed over the bar, Indonesia made up for the miss with their opening goal two minutes later.

Saudi Arabia, who had defeated Syria 3-0 in their opening second round league match on Sunday, turned on the power after going behind to Adham Alrefai's 23rd minute strike.