Shohruh Gadoev gave Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side the lead after 16 minutes but goals from Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout – both set up by midfielder Amer Abdulrahman – secured the UAE a second straight win after kicking off their campaign with victory over Vietnam.

The result leaves Uzbekistan in early difficulties, with just a solitary point from their draw with Hong Kong in Tashkent on Matchday 1 in February.

The Uzbeks took the lead when Gadoev’s left foot effort gave Ali Khaseif little chance, but the Emirates defence only had themselves to blame for the goal as Khamis Esmaeel played the ball into the goalscorer’s path after Alexander Geynrikh’s initial effort was blocked.

Twelve minutes later, Ignatiy Nesterov came to his side’s rescue at the other end of the pitch as Ismail Al Hammadi laid the ball off to Mabkhout, whose return pass found its way into Al Hammadi’s path through the legs of the Uzbek defender only for his attempt to steer the ball home cleared via the goalkeeper’s legs.

An overhead attempt by Mabkhout went across the face of the visitors’ goal soon after while, with a minute remaining in the half, Nesterov was again on hand to keep the home side at bay when he pushed Khamis’ shot from the edge of the area away for a corner.

The Gulf Cup winners had looked a shadow of their usual selves in the opening 45 minutes but that all changed in the second period as Mahdi Ali’s side took control.

Khalil pulled his side level with a fine cushioned right-foot volley that went across Nesterov’s goal and into the far corner after Abdulrahman’s perfectly flighted ball across and behind the Uzbekistan defence.

Two minutes later the home side took the lead thanks to more inventive play by midfielder Abdulrahman, whose ball from inside the centre circle released Mabkhout, who headed the ball forward before clipping his shot beyond Nesterov.

The Uzbeks, though, refused to lie down with Vitaliy Denisov shooting just wide before Nesterov was called into action again, pushing away Esmaeel’s awkward free kick.

Khaseif was then called upon to make two saves – first from Server Djeparov and then from Gadoev – within seconds and either side of an effort from Sanjar Tursanov that hit the woodwork, but the UAE held on to take the win and move to the top of Group E.