Paulo Bento opted for an unchanged UAE starting line-up while Amir Ghalenoei made four changes with Saleh Hardani, Saeid Ezatolahi, Hossein Kanani and Alireza Jahanbakhsh all starting for Iran.

Chances were few and far in between in the opening 25 minutes with neither Khalid Eisa in UAE’s goal nor Alireza Beiranvand for IR Iran being tested.

Iran had the ball in the net just after the half hour mark when Mehdi Taremi’s scuffed shot fell kindly for Mehdi Ghayedi to steer home but it was ruled out for offside.

Just when it looked like the match would go into half-time on level terms, Ghayedi stepped up to give Iran the lead in the third minute of added time, winning the ball off Khaled Aldhanhani inside the opposition box before slamming a near post shot past Eisa.

Three minutes into the second half, Iran threatened to double their lead when a Ghayedi corner kick found Jahanbakhsh whose flicked header needed Eisa’s intervention.

Iran went close again in the 68th minute when Saleh Hardani delivered a cross from the right with Taremi winning the header despite being challenged by two UAE defenders, only to see the ball go agonisingly wide.

A quick Iran counter attack 10 minutes later saw Sardar Azmoun laying the ball for Taremi to strike but the Inter Milan man - with only Eisa to beat - misjudged the flight of the ball.

UAE thought they had a late opportunity to level proceedings from the spot after referee Kim Jong-hyeok pointed to the spot for a handball by Hardani but upon VAR review, it was overturned and with that, ended the Emiratis’ hopes of a comeback.