Kuwait U-23 seeks vital win against Uzbekistan at Asian Games

Kuwait fighting for the ball Vietnam during the opening match.

NAGOYA, Sept. 17: Kuwait’s U-23 Olympic team faces a crucial test against Uzbekistan at 8:00 am today in the second round of Group C at the 20th Asian Games in Japan.

The Olympic team opened its campaign with a 1-1 draw against Vietnam on Tuesday, while Uzbekistan moved to the top of the group after a 5-1 victory over the Philippines.

Coach David Doniga knows a victory is vital to revive Kuwait’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage.

A draw would keep those hopes alive, but would leave Kuwait facing a tougher path to qualification and relying on other results.

Doniga and his coaching staff spent the past two days working with the players to address the mistakes made against Vietnam. Particular emphasis was placed on maintaining better organization, understanding individual roles, following instructions, and executing the tactical plan.

Kuwait will look to produce a disciplined and composed performance against Uzbekistan and claim the three points, which would provide a valuable boost ahead of Monday’s final group match against the Philippines.