Both teams came into the tie searching for their first win with Egypt having drawn blanks against Dominican Republic while Uzbekistan fell 2-1 against Spain. 

However, it was Egypt who looked the more dangerous from the start with Osama Faisal almost finding a way through in the second minute, only to be flagged offside.

Uzbekistan had to be on their toes as Egypt attacked in numbers with Karim El Debes coming close from outside the box in the seventh minute before Faisal was denied by the post three minutes later.

The goal finally arrived for Egypt a minute later after a lapse in concentration saw Ahmed Koka turn in Mukhammadkodir Khamraliev’s clearance into the back of the net.

Uzbekistan regrouped but their hurried efforts weren’t effective with Eldor Shomurodov and Jasurbek Jaloliddinov both missing opportunities, with Jaloliddinov then seeing his long-range effort saved in the 42nd minute.

Timur Kapadze sent on Ruslanbek Jiyanov for Oston Urunov a minute after the restart in a bid to inject pace to Uzbekistan’s attacking front and it almost came to fruition in the 53rd minute when Jaloliddinov’s free-kick came close to finding its intended target.

With their hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals hanging by a thread, the Central Asian side pumped more bodies forward and they almost found a way through in the 70th minute when Shomurodov, played on by Umarali Rahmonaliyev, forced a fine save from Egypt keeper Hamza Alaa.  

The Central Asian side tried their best but Egypt held firm with Kapadze’s side to face  Dominican Republic in their final fixture on Tuesday while Egypt take on Spain.