Ammouta: Perfect plan took Jordan past Iraq

Klinsmann will be going head-to-head with Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini for the second time since September, when the nations met in a friendly match in England that the Koreans won 1-0 to give the German his first victory in charge of the Taeguk Warriors.

But Klinsmann admits the challenge facing his side at Education City Stadium will be very different compared to the narrow success achieved at Newcastle’s St James’s Park in only Mancini’s second game in charge of the three-time AFC Asian Cup winners.

With talisman and captain Eldor Shomurodov missing the competition through injury, Uzbekistan were expected to struggle to find goals in Qatar 2023, but head coach Sereko Katanec’s side were able to advance from Group B unbeaten, with four goals scored by four different players.

The Round of 16 sees the White Wolves taking on Thailand at Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday, opponents who are yet to concede in the tournament, beating Kyrgyz Republic 2-0 and drawing 0-0 against both Oman and Saudi Arabia to finish second in Group F.

Playing their first-ever knockout stage match on their continental debut, the Tajiks took the lead at the half-hour mark through Hanonov whose towering header found its way past goalkeeper Khaled Eisa and into the bottom corner of the Emirati net.

Despite being clawed back late in added time through a Khalifa Al Hammadi header, head coach Petar Segrt’s men held out throughout the 30 minutes of extra time to force a penalty shootout in which goalkeeper Yatimov saved from Caio Canedo to set his team up for a 5-3 victory.