Across the 24 matches played in Taif and Jeddah, there were plenty of goals to cheer and exciting drama to savour as the next generation of Asian talents took centrestage.
Perfect run
Uzbekistan and Indonesia blazed through Group A and Group C respectively as they booked a place in the knockout stage and their tickets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025. They were the only two sides with a 100 percent record in the group stage, winning all three of their matches.
Netbusters
Four players are leading the race to claim the Top Goalscorer award with Evandra Florastra (IDN), Minato Yoshida (JPN), Asilbek Aliev (UZB) and Kim Eun-seong (KOR) all on three goals each.
Goals galore
There were plenty of thrills and spills in the 24 group stage matches as no match finished in a goalless draw. A total of 76 goals scored with Uzbekistan notching the most goals with nine.
New challengers
Of the eight quarter-finalists, only three teams have yet to lift the coveted trophy in Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Tajikistan while five champions in Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea Republic and DPR Korea are looking to add to their previous successes.
Red mist
Only three red cards were handed out by the match officials – UAE’s Ali Al Jasmi, Phurinat Poolkamlang of Thailand and Tajikistan’s Mekhrochidin Rozikov. Only Rozikov’s sending-off was a straight red for a last-man challenge in their match against DPR Korea.
Late drama
It’s not over until the final whistle blows as was highlighted by five goals scored in the dying embers of the match, three of which were by Indonesia in their matches against Korea Republic and Afghanistan (2) but China PR’s Wei Xiangxin – who scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time against Saudi Arabia and Al Walid Al ‘Abdul Salam’s goal for Oman against DPR Korea – were the latest scorers in the group stage.
Safe hands
With no goalless draw in the group stage, it wasn’t an easy time for the goalkeepers but two shone in Korea Republic’s Park Do-hun and Dafa Al Gasemi of Indonesia who both kept two clean sheets each.
Technology scrutiny
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be implemented for the first time in the AFC U17 Asian Cup with the seven Saudi Arabia 2025 knockout stage matches to have added scrutiny.
