The captain of the Uzbekistan U-17 national team, Mo'minxon Bahodirxonov, who lost the second match of Group J of the World Cup against the Irish youth team, spoke with journalists after the match. He openly expressed his thoughts about the mistakes in the match, the team's actions, and the opponent.
According to Bakhodirkhonov, the team entered the field only for victory, but some unpleasant errors in defense determined the result.
"We entered the game with the goal of winning, we played based on our style. But a few errors in defense cost us dearly. We knew in advance that the Irish team could play well on the second floor, but in some situations, we conceded the ball because our defenders didn't fully communicate with each other. This was a great lesson for us. "We are still young, such games will increase our experience in the future," he said.
The captain positively assessed the team's spirit and performance. In his opinion, the players put in all their effort on the field, but some passivity prevented the victory.
"Our team actually played well. We created opportunities both in defense and attack. However, at times, breaks in the game, unexpected pauses, disrupted the rhythm. This affected us. Nevertheless, the guys gave their all, fought on the field," Bakhodirkhanov said.
According to Sardor, during the game he was also forced to perform the duties of his teammate Musakhanov.
"Before each match, the coaches provide complete information about the opponent. We knew Ireland's numbers 9 and 11 were active. Therefore, we paid great attention to their control. Musakhanov played very well today, leaving almost no chance for the opponent. "And I tried to cover his back when he came forward," he said.
Bakhodirkhanov also admitted that the team was somewhat weakened after the first goal, but noted that this was the result of youth carelessness, not the strength of Ireland.
"After we scored, there was a rush in our game. This is a sign of youth. Every team gets inspired after a goal, we also wanted to score the second goal, but in some situations we rushed. Ireland took advantage of this. They controlled the ball more, but honestly, they weren't stronger than us, they just took advantage of our mistakes," the captain added.
At the end of the conversation, Bakhodirkhonov noted that the coaching staff is thoroughly preparing for each opponent, and the team is aiming only for growth through such competitions.
"Our coaches thoroughly study the opponent before each match and give the necessary instructions. We will try to fulfill them fully on the field. This defeat will be a lesson for us. There are more games ahead, we might face Ireland again. "Then we will show a better result," Mo'minxon Bahodirxonov said confidently.
The Uzbekistan national team will now play the decisive match of the group stage against Panama. If the team wins, they will advance to the playoffs.
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