Torres and Sanabria Fire Uruguay Past Uzbekistan as Bukit Jalil Crowd Witnesses Spirited Friendly

As the setting sun filtered through the rafters of Bukit Jalil National Stadium, the intensity on the pitch belied the “friendly” tag. In a test of resolve and craft, Uruguay edged Uzbekistan 2-1, their victory carved by Facundo Torres and Juan Manuel Sanabria’s well-timed second-half goals and a late Uzbek rally that nearly upended the South Americans’ ambitions.

Uruguay arrived in Kuala Lumpur buoyed by recent success—a 1-0 win over the Dominican Republic last week and unbeaten momentum after a stalemate in Chile and a commanding 3-0 win over Peru in World Cup qualifying. Their lineup, sprinkled with youth and experience, looked prepared to absorb Uzbekistan’s physical press. Yet, the opening forty-five minutes unfolded as a chess match: tight marking, few clear chances, and midfield duels that set the tone.

For Uzbekistan, this friendly was a moment to extend their string of resilience. Just last month, they navigated the CAFA Nations Cup with a record of two wins and two draws, including a dominant 4-0 triumph over Kyrgyzstan and a hard-fought point in Tehran against Iran. Their confidence, distilled from those outings, showed in the early stages—a defense organized around the imposing figure of Jiyanov Ruslanbek, and flurries of counterattacks led by Erkinov Khojimat and Otabek Shukurov.

But the match tilted dramatically in the 51st minute. Uruguay, who had been probing for weaknesses, found daylight when Facundo Torres sliced through Uzbekistan’s right flank, exchanging passes with Juan Manuel Sanabria before unleashing a surgical low drive. The ball fizzed past Uzbek keeper Umidjon Ismoilov, Torres celebrating his first international goal since June. The celebrations were muted but the intent was clear—Uruguay had seized the moment.

Uzbekistan’s response was immediate; Shukurov nearly equalized, his clipped effort glancing wide as the Bukit Jalil crowd gasped. But Uruguay’s midfield, orchestrated by Manuel Ugarte, regained composure and doubled their advantage nine minutes later. Sanabria, imposing in the half-spaces all evening, drifted unmarked into the penalty area and latched onto a floated cross from the left, burying his header into the far corner. The two-goal cushion momentarily deflated Uzbekistan, whose spirit had defined their past outings.

Yet, with echoes of their Nations Cup comeback against Oman, Uzbekistan refused to wilt. Jiyanov Ruslanbek, their talismanic defender, pushed forward and injected urgency. In the 82nd minute, he capitalized on a loose ball after a scrambled set piece, hammering a shot past Sergio Rochet as Uzbek supporters erupted. The stadium pulsed with hope, and for a fleeting window, the hosts threatened to complete their comeback.

Uruguay, though, managed the final minutes with astuteness learned from continental qualifying campaigns. They slowed tempo, snuffed out crosses, and denied space to Erkinov, whose late surge could have altered the narrative. No red cards marred the contest, but the tension on both benches underscored how much a “friendly” can matter to two sides on divergent paths.

Tonight’s result, while not affecting their respective league standings, feels consequential within the broader arc of each team’s fall campaign. For Uruguay, who currently sit strong in South American World Cup qualifying and continue to integrate emerging talents like Torres and Sanabria, the victory reinforces a philosophy built on clinical edge and defensive discipline. Their unbeaten streak now stretches to five, with three victories and two draws in their last outings—a rhythm that manager Diego Alonso will look to carry into critical qualifiers that loom on the calendar.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, will lament missed chances but glean lessons as they prepare for the next phase of regional competition. Their form over the past month—two wins and two draws in the CAFA Nations Cup—suggests a program on the rise, one increasingly able to test higher-ranked nations. Ruslanbek’s goal, emblematic of their fight, offers a narrative thread for fans eager for signs of sustained progress; their next matches will define whether this spirit translates into tangible results.

There is little recent head-to-head history between these sides, but tonight’s duel provided an early chapter in a potential rivalry that could blossom as both programs ascend. For Uruguay, the trip to Malaysia served as a proving ground for new faces and a reaffirmation of continental pedigree. For Uzbekistan, it was a night of near-misses and forward steps, an international showcase before their home fans.

As the players disappeared down the tunnel, the scoreboard reflected more than numbers—it told a story of contrasting fortunes, ambition, and the enduring value of matchdays when nothing is truly at stake except pride, progress, and the next challenge waiting just beyond the horizon.