DOHA, Qatar — Uzbekistan qualified for the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup by drawing 2-2 with China on Sunday.
Uzbekistan fell behind early but then rallied with two goals before China equalized. Uzbekistan reached the last eight of the Asian Cup for the third time, while China was eliminated.
Uzbekistan topped Group A with seven points, one more than host Qatar, which beat Kuwait 3-0 in its last group game. China finished with four points.
"It was a good game, we won the group, everyone is pleased," Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov said.
Yu Hai put China ahead in the sixth minute before Odil Akhmedov equalized in the 30th. Alexander Geynrikh gave Uzbekistan a 2-1 lead in the 46th, but Hao Junmin scored from a free kick in the 56th to level for China in front of few spectators at the Al-Gharafa stadium.
"We had to defend more today because we had to be careful although we had six points going into the match. Still, we had many chances," Abramov said.
Timur Kapadze set up Maksim Shatskikh at the far post less than three minutes into the game but the striker sent a wild shot high although unmarked five meters (yards) from the net.
Uzbekistan was to rue its missed chance only three minutes later.
Li Xuepeng's header from a free-kick cross was saved by goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov, who pushed the ball away for a corner. Yang Hao took it and Yu Hai connected to beat Nesterov with a close-range header. The Uzbek goalkeeper had the ball in his hands but could not hold onto it and China went ahead after six minutes.
In the 21st, Zhao Xuri shook Nesterov's crossbar from 20 meters (yards) out.
China's set pieces continued to trouble Uzbekistan and defender Du Wei headed high after another free kick.
But Uzbekistan tied the match in the 30th when striker Akhmedov collected a through ball from Server Djeparov and slipped it past goalkeeper Yang Zhi.
China nearly regained the lead in the 35th when Gao Lin sent a powerful header but Nesterov made another outstanding one-handed save.
Uzbekistan should have gone into the break one goal up but Djeparov made poor use of Geynrikh's good pass and let the Chinese goalkeeper scoop the ball.
China was caught cold at the start of the second half when Geynrikh was allowed to pace down the right midfield unopposed and drove in a superb looping shot into the roof of the net.
Hao Junmin curled in a free kick from the edge of the penalty area in the 56th to pull China level again.
Gao Lin then missed with a diving header as Uzbekistan let the game slip away from its control.
Hao Junmin had another opportunity late in the game after shaking off two defenders but sent his shot high.
"This Asian Cup was a great experience for our young team," China coach Gao Hongbo said. "We could learn a lot."
"We had many chances in this match, but we were unfortunate," he said.
Substitute Shavkat Salomov nearly scored with his first touch of the ball as the Chinese 'keeper fumbled the shot but it ended in a corner. Geynrikh nearly scored directly from the corner but the goalkeeper was up to the task this time.
Lineups:
China: Yang Zhi, Li Xuepeng, Du Wei, Zhang Linpeng, Rong Hao, Zhao Xuri (Liu Jianye, 45), Hao Junmin, Wang Song, Yang Hao (Deng Zhuoxiang, 73), Yu Hai (Yang Xu, 60), Gao Lin.
Uzbekistan: Ignatiy Nesterov, Anzur Ismailov, Azizbek Haydarov, Server Djeparov (Shavkat Salomov 84), Odil Akhmedov, Stanislav Andreev, Timur Kapadze, Viktor Karpenko (Shavkatjon Mulladjanov, 74), Olim Novkarov (Sanjar Tursunov, 62), Alexander Geynrikh, Maksim Shatskikh.