The 22-year-old Pakhtakor striker was a star performer for his country during Tuesday’s narrow 1-0 loss to Qatar, a result that, combined with China’s 3-0 win over Oman, leaves the Central Asians currently occupying third place in Group A and needing a positive result against the host nation to realistically have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

“After the first matchday results, it is fair to say that we are in a difficult situation,” Uriboev told the-AFC.com.

“We are busy preparing for the match against China because they are undoubtedly a strong opponent. Nevertheless, we will, of course, try to improve the current situation in the next game.”

With a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan already under their belt, Qatar go into Friday’s Group A clash against Oman knowing that a win would edge them closer to the quarter-finals – progress that, according to Sanchez, could well be aided and abetted by the unity his side are currently displaying in China PR.

“One of the main aspects of this group (of players) is that they work very hard and that they have a great team spirit,” the Spaniard explained.

“I hope this will make a difference here in China because the tournament is a short one, which means that every game is almost like a final. We know the next two games are going to be very important for us if we are to qualify for the next phase.”

The Al Duhail forward’s goal leaves Qatar second in Group A behind table-topping China PR who beat Oman 3-0 in the day’s earlier game.

In a closely fought first half, it was Uzbekistan who dominated the early proceedings, Zabikhillo Urinboev firing inches over following a neat interchange of passes with Dostonbek Khamdamov on the edge of the area after 14 minutes.

Qatar responded well however, with dynamic captain Ahmad Moein, a member of the squad when his country finished fourth at the tournament’s last edition in 2016, fizzing a shot narrowly wide shortly after the half hour mark.

With Qatar clearly growing in confidence, midfielder Salem Al Hajri then rattled the Uzbekistan bar courtesy of a rasping drive from distance as the opening period came to an entertaining close.

Goals from Yang Liyu, Li Xiaoming and Wei Shihao proved the difference on a bitterly cold afternoon, as China laid down an impressive early marker in a group which saw Qatar beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in their opening tie. 

In what would prove to be an entertaining opening period, it was China who threatened first, Yang seeing his shot from 12 yards smothered by the visiting defence, and Beijing Guoan forward Wei forcing a smart save from Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini with 18 minutes gone.

With China in the ascendancy, Oman’s defence was to be breached twice in quick succession, as first Yang expertly converted Li Shuai’s pinpoint delivery on the half hour mark, and then Li Xiaoming headed home Wei’s superb floated cross to double his side’s advantage just four minutes later.