Vadim Abramov’s White Wolves will face the Akshumkar at Tashkent’s Pakhtakor Stadium in the first meeting between the Central Asian neighbours since 2017.

Both sides will use the friendly to prepare for pivotal home matches in the days to follow, with Uzbekistan to host Saudi Arabia on November 14 before meeting Palestine five days later, while Alexander Krestinin’s Kyrgyz Republic are to set to entertain Japan and Tajikistan in Bishkek.

The Central Asians avoided a potential banana-skin at the National Stadium, with Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad’s header bringing the hosts level at 1-1 on the stroke of half-time, before a second half brace from star striker Eldor Shomurodov sealed three important points.

The win, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s scoreless draw in Palestine, helped the White Wolves reach the top of Group D for the first time - a position they will have the opportunity to strengthen further when they meet the Saudis at home on Matchday Five next month.

The outstanding Shomurodov struck twice after the break to ultimately seal the win for Vadim Abramov’s charges on a night when they were pushed all the way by their Southeast Asian hosts.

Five different goalscorers and a consummate display throughout helped secure the much-needed victory for Uzbekistan, one which should go some way towards easing memories of the White Wolves’ surprise 2-0 loss to Palestine in their opening game en route to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

By way of contrast – and in the wake of draws against both Singapore and Saudi Arabia – the defeat signalled a first loss in three for Yemen who had been forced to travel to Central Asia without suspended striker Mohsen Hasan.

The win followed four days on from a 7-0 win over Myanmar that put Kyrgyz Republic’s campaign back on track for the for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 after their opening loss to Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan last month and moves them on to six points from their opening three games in Group F.

Alimardon Shukurov, 20, and Gulzhigit Alykulov, 18, had tongues wagging after their outstanding performances on Thursday, with both players netting their first senior international goals as the Central Asian side revived their Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 campaign after last month’s 1-0 defeat against Tajikistan.

Bernhardt, 33, has seen plenty of players come and go in his 15-year professional career, but he believes the Akshumkar could have something special on their hands with the dynamic duo.

Edgar Bernhardt netted a hat-trick, Alimardon Shukurov a brace and Gulzhigit Alyukulov and Valerii Kichin added goals of their own as Alexander Krestinin’s side recorded their biggest ever win on the international stage.

Kyrgyz Republic’s dream night takes them to three points from two matches ahead of next Tuesday’s visit to Mongolia, while Myanmar remain bottom of Group F after a succumbing to a third successive loss.