“Our team spirit is really strong. I’m 16, most of my teammates are a year older. But we have such a strong bond, like a family. I did not expect to score the winning goal, but my aim was to come on and help the team,” said Aliev.

“I want to continue making an impact for my team, and hopefully we can win this tournament.”

Aliev scored the winner when he headed in Azizbek Abdumuminov’s cross from the left wing, adding to Sadriddin Khasanov’s first-half equaliser. Zhang Chengrui had given China PR the lead on a wet night at the Okaz Stadium.

Uzbekistan head coach Islombek Ismoilov was delighted to guide his team to the knockout round and book their FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 berth.

“China PR was a team that we knew we needed to beat to advance, so I am pleased with this result. Our opponents looked tired after 60 minutes, so I told my players to put more pressure and be aggressive.

“They were playing on the counter-attack and hitting long balls in the first half, so I told my players to watch out for that in the second half,” said Ismoilov.

China PR head coach Kenichi Uemura said his players could not match Uzbekistan’s intensity in the second half, which resulted in the winning goal.

“We were tired - both physically and mentally towards the end - and our opponents capitalised with the goal. Despite the defeat, it was a good experience for us,” he said.