The hosts drew first blood in the 15th minute with Alimardon Shukurov’s perfect first-time layoff allowed Joel Kojo to rifle home past a stranded Utkir Yusupov.

Uzbekistan’s response was swift as just two minutes after going behind, Otabek Shukurov put Eldor Shomurodov through and the star striker slammed the ball beyond Erzhan Tokotaev.

Kyrgyz Republic retook the lead in the 35th minute after Eldiyar Zarypbekov got on the end of Valerii Kichin’s long floated free-kick and laid the ball for Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov who applied a deft shot with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner.

Uzbekistan had an opportunity to draw level in the 43rd minute when Jaloliddin Masharipov rose highest to get his head onto Khojiakbar Alijonov’s cross but it was clawed away by Tokotaev.

The visitors, however, were not to be denied with Khusniddin Alikulov taking advantage of a static Kyrgyz Republic defence in added time to direct the into the bottom right corner off a Sherzod Nasrullaev cross.

Both Maksim Lisitsyn and Srecko Katanec continued to urge their respective teams to be on the attack, giving the second half a similar feel to the first 45 minutes with end-to-end action.

After a quiet first half, Uronov started to offer more in the second period,shaking off a defender in the 70th minute before unleashing a grounder which Tokotaev had to be alert to save.

Uronov went one better two minutes later, receiving the ball at the edge of the box, waltzing past two defenders before finding the roof of the net from a tight angle.