In the first match of the group stage, held on January 6 in Jeddah, the Kyrgyz team faced the Saudi Arabian team.
The first half did not bring any spectacular moments, but was memorable for a red card. In the 34th minute, the referee from China, Fu Ming, after reviewing VAR, issued a red card to player Arsen Sharshenbekov.
In the second half, the Kyrgyz national team demonstrated good defense, but the fate of the match changed when the referee awarded a penalty for a handball in their own penalty area. The team's goalkeeper, Kurmanbek Nurlanbekov, successfully saved the opponent's shot.
The Kyrgyz team held their goal intact until the 88th minute, but ultimately conceded a goal at the end of the match.
The final score was 1:0 in favor of Saudi Arabia.
In the next round, which will take place on January 9, the Kyrgyz national team will face the Vietnamese team, which won its first match against Jordan with a score of 2:0.
