A Sergeev penalty finally broke the deadlock with ten minutes at the Emirates Club Stadium before a stunning Khakimov effort sealed the victory four minutes later.

The win ensured Uzbekistan topped the standings with seven points, two more than Jordan who hammered Vietnam 5-2 in the in the other Group C match kicking-off simultaneously over in Fujairah to take second place ahead of the defending champions.

DPR Korea coach An Ye-gun made two changes in the side that thumped Vietnam 5-0 on Tuesday with Ra Ji-song replacing Kang Nam-gwon and Kim Jo-song coming in for Jang Ok-chol as the Koreans were in the mood from the beginning.

Midfielder Kong Chung-hyok failed to direct his header to the target as early as in the 3rd minute when he stood tall to get the first touch of Ruy Kwang-ho's corner.

Three minutes later Uzbek keeper Asilbek Amanov was called into action after he brilliantly saved Jong Kwang-sok's freekick.

The first chance of Uzbekistan came in the 23rd minute when Abdul Aziz Yusupov dodged his markers to remain unmarked inside the penalty area but a failure to generate enough power on his header off Abbosbek Makhstaliev's cross meant an easy save for Korean keeper An Kang-chol.

The Uzbeks began the second half positively and started making in-roads into Korea territory with Makhstaliev making a mess of a 50th minute opportunity before the tournament's joint-leading scorer Sergeev was denied his fifth of the campaign seven minute later thanks to An's superb save.

Makhstaliev was denied by the post in the 63rd minute before Uzbekistan were bailed out by Sardor Rakhmanov's brave goalline block following a close-range effort from DPR Korea substitute Sin Chung-song.

With ten minutes remaining Lebanon referee Ali Sabbagh adjudged the Sergeev was brought down in the area by DPR defender Jang Kuk-chol and the Uzbek striker picked himself up, dusted himself down and powered home the penalty despite the best efforts of keeper An.

Uzbekistan stamped their authority in the see-saw battle when a brilliant individual run of Khakimov, who started today's match after impressing coach Akhmadjan Musaev in their 2-2 draw against Jordan, buried a ferocious left-footer that left An helpless to seal the win that set up a quarter-final clash with Syria on Sunday.