Uzbekistan vs Bahrain

Prince Abdullah Al Faisal, and a group that resolves itself

The other final-round match is at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, a 26 000 ground and the smaller of the two the city is using. It runs simultaneously with North Korea against Jordan in Riyadh, which is exactly the point of scheduling it that way.

Uzbekistan and Bahrain bring fifteen previous Asian Cup appearances between them and two fourth places, in 2011 and 2004 respectively. Neither has reached a final. This is the sort of match that decides which of two similar records gets extended and which one stalls.

Uzbekistan have not missed an Asian Cup since 1996, which is a longer run of qualification than anyone else in this group and a reasonable argument that the squad ought to be doing more with it. Bahrain, at an eighth appearance, would take the round of 16 as a good tournament.

The two records

This is a ninth Asian Cup for Uzbekistan, whose best finish is fourth place (2011), against a eighth for Bahrain, best fourth place (2004).