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Ireland progress to U17 World Cup knockout stages after victory over Uzbekistan

Updated / Saturday, 8 Nov 2025 20:47
Grady McDonnell celebrates Ireland's opening goal against Uzbekistan
Grady McDonnell celebrates Ireland's opening goal against Uzbekistan

Republic of Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan

The Republic of Ireland rallied from a goal down to defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and secure their place in the knockout stages of the tournament with a game to spare.

After the opening victory over Panama, Colin O'Brien’s side knew a positive result against the Asian champions would almost certainly be enough to emerge from Group J, but they did it the hard way after falling behind after 20 minutes before goals in either half from Grady McDonnell and Michael Noonan ensured they continue their winning ways in Qatar.

The opening stages saw cagey play from both sides at Aspire Zone in Doha, with a stoppage for Max Kovalevskis following a clash of heads doing little to aid any rhythm to the early play.

Uzbekistan tried a couple of pot shots from distance, while they looked to isolate dangerman Sayfiddin Sodikov one-on-one against left-back Ade Solanke at every opportunity.

The Lorient defender had his hands full throughout the 90 minutes and it was no surprise that the opening goal was created down the right side of the Uzbekistan attack.

On this occasion the Laois man did well to stand his opponent up and managed to slow down the attack. With the ball played back infield, goalkeeper Alex Noonan could only parry the incoming shot right into the path of Shukurullaev who finished first time.

O’Brien’s side knuckled down and Rory Finneran’s set-piece deliveries caused problems for the Uzbeki defence, as did Jaden Umeh's direct play on the left - the Benfica schemer was involved in the Irish equaliser.

Whatever problems Solanke was encountering in defence, he was proving a thorn in the Uzbeki side going forward, linking well with Umeh before standing up an inviting cross into the area.

McDonnell, the only change in personnel from the win over Panama, leapt like a salmon out of water to meet the delivery and generated enough power to wrongfoot Rustamzhonov in the 33rd minute.

There were a couple of shaky Irish moments before the half-time whistle.

Noonan had to react quickly to parry an effort that Abdumuminov knew very little about while Uzbekistan’s VAR 'challenge’ after the ball bounced off Oisin McDonagh's arm was dismissed by referee Abdou Mefire in added time before the sides retired to the changing rooms.

Arsenal-bound Victor Ozhianvuna replaced Kovalevskis but it took Ireland five minutes to get back to the pitch of the game, some sloppy play almost punished by Shukurullaev who could have had his second of the night had he committed more to the curling free-kick.

The Solanke-McDonnell combination nearly put Ireland in front in the 52nd minute, but this time the onrushing midfielder couldn’t keep the header on target, his final involvement in the game before limping off to be replaced by Kian McMahon-Brown.

Enterprising play from the substitute saw the Blackburn man turn and let fly with a rasping shot, but it was too central to trouble the Uzbeki shotstopper.

Solanke was again struggling to keep tabs on Sodikov, but the defender was Uzbekistan's tormentor-in-chief down the left flank. Goalkeeper Rustamzhonov came off his line to prevent Michael Noonan with a simple chance to head home from a Solanke cross, but with a quarter of an hour remaining in the contest, the pair combined to ruthless effect.

A one-two with Umeh saw Solanke reach the byline and his drilled cross was guided home by the Shamrock Rovers striker for his second goal of the tournament.

Substitute Ozhianvuna showed some neat touches, but his defensive intervention with five minutes to go was crucial in ensuring victory, standing his ground from a dangerous corner kick delivery with defender Amirkhon Muradov ready to head home from point-blank range.

That proved to be the final meaningful moment of the game as Ireland moved to maximum points ahead of the group finale against Paraguay on Tuesday afternoon (kick-off: 1.30 Irish time).

Republic of Ireland: Noonan; Butler, McDonagh, Leonard, Solanke; Finneran, McDonnell (McMahon-Brown 54); Kovalevskis (Ozhianvuna 46), Martos, Umeh; Noonan.

Uzbekistan: Rustamjonov; Khakimov, Bakhodirkhonov, Musakhanov; Khasanov (Saidov 74), Khabibullaev (Rustamov 74), Sodikov, Anvarov, Abdumuminov (Aliev 62); Shukurullaev, Erimbetov (Muradov).

Referee: Abdou Mefire (Cameroon)

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