Saudi Arabia raced off the blocks and came close to scoring as early as the second minute after Turki Al Ammar set up Aiman Yahya nicely at the edge of the six-yard-box, but the midfielder’s lobbed effort took a slight deflection before going over the bar.

Bangladesh continued to live dangerously as they weathered numerous attacks from the West Asians, with Al Ammar missing the target from inside the box and Yahya sending his free-kick straight into the arms of goalkeeper Mitul Marma.

Bangladesh finally conceded in the 16th minute when Saud Abdulah rose highest to nod home Hamed Abdullah Al Ghamdi’s cross off a corner to give 2020 runners-up Saudi Arabia the lead.

Ziyad Al Johani then etched his name on the scoresheet in the 19th minute when he pounced on a rebound after Marma had done brilliantly to deflect Al Ammar’s free-kick as the West Asians took a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Bangladesh were more organised in the second half but could not contain Saudi Arabia, who scored their third goal in the 70th minute after Al Ammar darted down the right before cutting back for Yahya to tap in from close range.

Uzbekistan and Kuwait, who had already confirmed their place in the 2022 Finals, made wholesale changes to their starting line-ups, but it mattered not as the match was still filled with action from the get-go with the hosts applying early pressure. 

Kuwait goalkeeper Abdulrahman Marzouq was the busier custodian after being forced to make three fine saves by the half-hour mark, but Uzbekistan’s pressure proved too much in the 37th minute when Diyorbek Rakhimkulov rose high to head home Muhammadkodir Hamraliev’s cross. 

One was not enough for Uzbekistan, and they were rewarded for their persistence in the second minute of added time through Hojimat Erkinov. The action began with Hamraliev’s long-range strike that rebounded off the crossbar, with Erkinov quickly converting the loose ball with a simple tap-in to make it 2-0 before the break.

Uzbekistan continued to move with confidence, and were three goals up five minute into the second half when Jasurbek Jaloliddinov let loose a superb free-kick that was too much for ‘keeper Marzouq to handle. 

Kuwait pulled one back in the 64th minute through Abdulaziz Mahran’s left-footed effort, but were undone just three minutes later when Jaloliddinov was taken down in the box and substitute Ulugbek Khoshimov made no mistake from the spot to restore their three-goal lead. 

Kuwait came extremely close to scoring again in the 75th minute when a counter-attack saw Mobarak Alfaneeni surge down the pitch but his strike deflected off the left post, before compatriot Eid Alrashidi’s follow up effort also struck the post. 

Erkinov would steal the spotlight with his strike in the final minute of added time after teaming up with Jaloliddinov in the box to secure a convincing win.