Four-time record champions Japan began their campaign with a big 4-1 win against United Arab Emirates, with Minato Yoshida netting a brace. The Kashima Antlers youth team forward’s second goal in particular caught the eye when he got ahead of his marker before planting a bullet header into the net.

Hosts Saudi Arabia got the better of Thailand on Matchday Two, with Abdulrahman Sufyani giving them the all-important lead in the 75th minute when he created space for himself in the box before hitting a powerful effort beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

When the ball broke to Zahaby Gholy on the edge of the box, the 16-year-old had just one thing on his mind. After controlling with his thigh with his first touch, he then displayed perfect technique to produce a blistering strike from 20 yards that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. 

The United Arab Emirates stunned Australia on Matchday Two with a 2-0 victory as Mohamed Buti struck the second goal in fine fashion. Buti brought down a long ball with the instep of his foot, before charging forward and rifling into the top left corner.

The first of two Uzbek entrants in this list in a group stage match that turned out to be the dress rehearsal for the final. As the ball looped up on the edge of the box after being half-cleared by the Saudi defence, Jamshidbek Rustamov thumped in a low first-time volley for his second goal of the night.

Australia defeated defending champions Japan 3-2 in the last group stage encounter with Max Anastasio scoring the pick of the goals. After intercepting the ball in midfield, he went on a mazy run to bamboozle two Japanese defenders and then calmly slot the ball into the net.

Indonesia topped the group with three wins out of three after breaking Afghanistan’s brave resistance in the 94th minute on Matchday Three. Aldyanshah Taher’s lovely pass played Fadly Alberto through and the forward produced a neat finish to beat the keeper before bringing out his Griddy dance moves.

DPR Korea went all the way to the semi-finals with their captain Kim Yu Jin leading from the front as displayed with his stunning strike against Oman. Yu jin cut inside from the left, before smashing an unstoppable effort into the far corner to give the goalkeeper no chance.

Asilbek Aliev gave the Uzbeks the lead in fabulous fashion against the UAE in the quarter-finals, coming up with Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark knuckleball technique on his free-kick as the ball flew into the net from 25 yards out with one of the standout moments of the tournament.

Korea Republic broke the deadlock against Tajikistan in an unconventional manner in the quarter-finals. Kim Ji-sung played in a low cross in the 67th minute for Jeong Hyeon-ung who ghosted in ahead of his marker before producing an improvised finish with his knee.

Later in the same match, the Tajiks came up with a well-synced goal of their own as Muhammad Nazriev fended off the Korean defence before producing a beautiful backheel assist for Abdullo Ibragimzoda to slam home from just inside the area with a strike that curled away from the outstretched goalkeeper.