Uzbekistan U20 take on New Zealand U20 in the round 2 match of World Cup U20. The match will be played on Tuesday, May 23rd at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades (Santiago del Estero)
Uzbeks came here aiming for at least the quarter-finals. The best team in Asia should not settle for less. As for the national team, it consists of players from the local championship and one Belarusian legionnaire. The Uzbeks have not shown a productive game even in the Asian championship, and now they will likely focus on defense. Yesterday, the team suffered a frustrating defeat against the Argentinians. After conceding the first goal, they decided not to retreat quickly, and they paid the price for it. Now they need to play for a victory, but New Zealand has shown a strong defensive game. Therefore, it can be said that defense is the strong point for the Uzbeks.{{book
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In the previous World Cup, the New Zealand team demonstrated that they would not be pushovers. They reached the playoffs and were eliminated by Colombia only on penalties. The new generation of islanders has grown even more dangerous. In friendly matches, New Zealand has already outplayed teams from South America. An interesting characteristic is that the team, led by a British specialist, imposes a slow and physical style of play. Guatemala couldn't withstand such conditions and conceded a silly goal. After securing a victory, they only need to earn one point to progress further. So, what's the point of going all out in a match against the Uzbeks?
Both teams need to urgently address their problems. In the final round, New Zealand will face the hosts, which will be a challenge. The team from Oceania has shown their readiness to fight physically, and there won't be any fast-paced football. It will be a tough and ruthless style of play. The Uzbeks cannot afford to lose, and in theory, a draw would suffice. However, considering that this generation of Uzbeks doesn't display technical and fast football, and a draw would suit the visitors, the match will be very slow-paced.
Prediction for the match: Under 2.5 scored goals.
