Players of China (right) and Uzbekistan compete during an international football friendly in Dalian, China, on Oct 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

DALIAN, China - Two second-half goals helped Uzbekistan come from behind to beat China 2-1 here on Monday in an international football friendly.

Uzbekistan had a total control of the match with 61 percent of ball possession and 24 shots, but the host team broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, when Wei Shihao fired home from distance after Wu Lei's shot was blocked.

In the 78th minute, the away team got the equalizer as Otabek Shukurov scored a follow-up, after his first attempt in a penalty kick was denied by Chinese goalkeeper Yan Junling.

Chinese winger Chen Pu made a huge defensive mistake in the 86th minute, which gave Bobur Abdikholikove space to cut into the penalty area and assisted Jamshid Iskandarov to tap in an open goal.

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China is set to play its first 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian zone qualifier against Thailand in November.