The 20-year-old struck early in the first half at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre to seal all three points for the Central Asians and revitalise their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals following a 1-0 defeat to Qatar on Matchday One.

With another key fixture to come against Oman on Monday, Alijonov believes Uzbekistan’s success against China was, in part, down to their mental approach to the fixture.

“Before the match, I think we were in a difficult situation in the group,” admitted the Pakhtakor left-back who featured for his country at the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship.

“But, we worked on our mental approach. Some players just weren’t ready (for the first match).

“The coach told us before the game that we must play to the best of our ability against China because they are the most dangerous team in our group.”

The win leaves the Central Asians level with China on three points and, and with Qatar defeating Oman 1-0 in the day's second match, both teams can still genuinely harbour ambitions of sealing a spot in the quarter-finals with one game apiece still to play.

Uzbekistan, who made a raft of changes to their starting 11 in the wake of Tuesday’s defeat to Qatar, were the first to threaten on a chilly afternoon in Jiangsu province, Dostonbek Khamdamov whipping in a 10th minute free-kick that China goalkeeper Zhou Yuchen did well to gather at his near post.

Their fine early endeavours were though to be rewarded just four minutes later when defender Alijonov made the most of poor Chinese defending to fire a left footed shot across Zhou and into the far corner of the net.

China responded well to the setback, Gao Zunhyi seeing his firm header cleared off the line by Doniyorjon Narzullaev, and Wei Shihao having a shot smothered by Uzbekistan custodian Botirali Ergashev following fine work down the right by Ba Dun shortly after the half hour mark.

In the last meaningful action of an entertaining first half Ergashev then pulled off a superb flying save to push away Yao Junsheng’s headed attempt from a pinpoint Liu Yiming delivery.

With one round of matches still to play, the victory lifts Qatar to top spot in Group A on six points, three ahead of both host nation China PR and Uzbekistan, while Oman are fourth and still searching for their first points of the tournament. Uzbekistan beat China 1-0 in the day's earlier match.

In a first half of few genuine chances, Qatar threatened first when Afif curled an early shot wide, before Oman midfielder Jameel Al Yahmadi released Muhsen Al Ghassani who could only screw his 22nd minute shot wide of Ibrahim Al Mukhaini’s right hand post when through on goal.

Al Mukhaini was then forced into action some 10 minutes later, the custodian reacting well to tip a firm Bassam Al Rawi header over the bar following Ahmad Moein’s pinpoint free-kick.

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.