Backs against the wall

Experience on their side: National Under-23 stalwarts Azam Azmi Murad (left) with Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi at a training session. They were also part of the senior team for the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 second round qualifiers against Oman recently. — FAM

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Under-23 football team have been warned. Uzbekistan will come out with guns blazing to secure full points when they take on the Harimau Muda in their opening Group D match in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, tonight.

Uzbekistan won the 2018 edition in China after edging Vietnam 2-1 in the final but they missed out on a slot for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after losing the playoff to Australia.