A torrential downpour before kick-off meant the match was played on a heavy, slow pitch and both teams started the match testing out the conditions in a fairly even first 30 minutes.

The last 15 minutes of the first half saw the Young Socceroos start to get on top and dominate possession with the opening goal coming in the 35th minute when Corey Brown carried the ball out from defence and passed to Terry Antonis in the midfield.

Antonis continued towards goal and then hit a cracking right footed strike, from around 35 metres out, that gave the Uzbekistan Goalkeeper, Amanov Asilbek, no chance of saving, as the ball rocketed into the top right corner of the goal.

The second half saw the Young Socceroos continue to dominate play and create a number of chances but couldn’t convert any to extend their lead which allowed Uzbekistan to stay in the match.

Uzbekistan equalised in the 78th minute when Abdul Aziz made the most of a cross from Muratov Azizbek.

Just when the match seemed destined to be a draw, Uzbekistan scored the winner in the 90th minute when Abdumuminov Jahongir headed in a cross to seal the points.

Young Socceroos coach Paul Okon was disappointed with the missed chances and final result, but was pleased with parts of his team’s performance.

“The players did well on a heavy pitch," he said. "We scored a great goal in the first half and created a number of other half chances and in the last 15 minutes of the first half we really got on top of them.

“We started the second half in the same way by dominating the play but we missed a number of chances. That is the lesson we learnt today by not taking our chances against a good opposition.”

In the other match of the tournament, IR Iran defeated host nation Vietnam 2-1.

The Qantas Young Socceroos will face Vietnam in their next match of the tournament on Tuesday.