Both sides were unable to qualify for the quarter-finals following earlier defeats by Korea Republic and Iraq, but it was Uzbekistan who ended the campaign on a high as midfielder Sokhibov struck after 18 minutes.

And with captain Sergeev heading home just after the hour mark and Jaloliddin Masharipov netting in stoppage time, Uzbekistan bagged third spot having earlier lost 2-1 to Korea and 3-2 to Iraq, while Yemen finished without a point after losing 2-0 to Iraq and 5-0 to Korea despite Ahmed Al Sarori’s late long range consolation.

“We had to show that the team could play better football and the work that had been done by the coaching staff and the whole team. We had to show our efforts and I think we could during the game,” said Uzbekistan coach Samvel Babayan.

“We had to prove that the previous results were not fair in terms of play and that we deserved more, and I think we could demonstrate what we could have done in this tournament.

“The team has many players from the national team and they are already starting 11 players, but no matter what happened during this tournament, Uzbekistan has talented young players and they will be the stars of Asia and for our country in the future.”

It was Uzbekistan who duly took the lead after 18 minutes of an open contest as Sokhibov fired home from inside the penalty area.

Uzbekistan continued to look the more likely to add to the scoreline through Dostonbek Khamdamov midway through the first half.

And Uzbekistan finished the first half strongly with Khamdamov, Jamshid Boltaboev, Masharipov and Eldor Shomurodov all threatening.

The contest continued in the same way at the start of the second half through Sergeev and Masharipov.

And Uzbekistan doubled their advantage eight minutes after the hour mark as Sergeev sent a glancing header from Shomurodov’s chipped cross into the bottom corner.

Yemen, though, claimed a consolation goal with eight minutes remaining as Al Sarori spotted Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abdumavlon Abduljalilov off his line and the striker lifted the ball over the stranded custodian from 35 yards to claim his side’s first goal of the tournament.

But Uzbekistan restored the two-goal cushion in stoppage time as Masharipov found the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

“Even though we were out of the tournament, we still tried to play well. I think the team performed much better than the last two matches. We wanted to end the competition with a good performance and we did that,” said Yemen coach Abraham Mebratu.

“When we participated in this competition we had two objectives, one was to achieve very good results and qualify for the next round, and the second one was to prepare future national team players, so we have benefited on this side.”