The Neftchi midfielder produced a sublime shot from over 25 yards early in the first half to hand the 2008 finalists their second win in Group B.

The victory means Uzbekistan top the standings with six points and with just one game remaining against winless Iraq on Thursday they are unable to finish any lower than second.

While Uzbekistan will undoubtedly be delighted with the result it was a game of few chances and Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov was the first to threaten for either side as the forward broke down the right sending Sultan Thani tumbling in his wake but then shot into the side-netting with Waleed Al Hayam cutting off his angle.

But it was not long before the Central Asians opened the scoring through a piece of individual brilliance from Smolyachenko in the 16th minute as he spotted goalkeeper Ebrahim Khalil slightly off his line and struck a fine shot from 25 yards that bulged the back of the net.

After that goal Uzbekistan chose to defend in numbers and Bahrain dominated possession for the remainder of the half but were continually finding themselves frustrated in the final third.

Saad Salah almost carved out an opening though 10 minutes before the break when he raced onto a through ball into the area but was unable to shake off the attention of two defenders and the chance went.

Khalil had to be at his best to deny Uzbekistan a second eight minutes into the second half when substitute Abdumutallib Abdullaev fed a pass for Abdukholiqov on the edge of the area and the forward lifted a shot that the goalkeeper had to push over the bar to be safe.

Ali Muneer dragged a shot into the side netting after 65 minutes in a rare foray into the Uzbekistan half for Bahrain before Haban Abhaq drove a free kick into the Uzbekistan wall.

Bahrain continued to press for an equaliser in the closing stages but with Uzbekistan putting men behind the ball they were unable to find a way through the defence.