JAPAN v UZBEKISTAN
Asian Cup
Thursday 17th January 2019
Kickoff: 1730hrs
Pick: Both teams to score
Bookmaker: Betfair
Odds: 2.10 (odds taken at 04:13 GMT, 17 Jan 2019)
There’s also Asian Cup action on Thursday night as the tournament’s group stages draw to a close with Japan taking on Uzbekistan in a Group F top of the table clash as the betting tips continue.
Japan Prediction
Japan sit level on six points with tonight’s opponents Uzbekistan but possess an inferior goal difference with 3 goals separating these two teams heading into this final group match. Japan have collected two wins on the trot in the group stages so far with wins over Turkmenistan 3-2 and a 1-0 win over Oman to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds.
However, it now remains to be seen who the Blue Samurai will play in the next phase as the winner of Group F will play either Qatar or Saudi Arabia, but Japan will be keen to play the runners-up of Group E.
Japan have won 6 of their last 7 matches with wins registered against Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Oman, which has been a very welcome boost for Japan following an underwhelming World Cup campaign which saw them record just 1 point.
5 of Japan’s last 10 matches have seen both teams score, and they’re not quite the Asian powerhouse they once were a few years ago, so it looks like this’ll be a tight contest here.
- Japan have won 6 of their last 7 matches
- Uzbekistan have won 4 of their last 6 matches in all competitions
- 3 of the last 6 meetings between these two sides have seen both teams score
Uzbekistan Prediction
Uzbekistan have impressed so far as they sit top of Group F by virtue of a better goal difference than the Japanese which has been helped by back-to-back wins to start this season’s Asian Cup in positive fashion.
Wins over Oman 2-1 and a heavy 4-0 win over Turkmenistan has sealed their position in the knockout rounds with one match remaining of the group stages as Uzbekistan have emerged as one of the dark horses of this tournament.
Recent form has certainly improved for Uzbekistan as they’d picked up wins over North Korea and Qatar in recent times last October, and they’ll fancy their chances of getting something out of this clash I daresay, having won 4 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
Betting Tips Verdict
Both teams have already qualified but they’ll both be keen to face lesser opposition in the knockout rounds – both teams to score at good odds appeals.
