Substitutes helped Uzbeksitan to win the crucial match against China, coach Rauf Inileyev said after his team smashed China 3-0 on Wednesday.

"I am very happy with it and the result may not fit the match process. It is our luck to win through free kick scores," a smiling Inileyev said at a news conference after the match.

"We know China can not play so well in the second half as in the first half, and our substitutes help us win in the second part of the game," he said.

He admitted that Chinese players were more tired than Uzbekistan players after battling Iran to a 2-2 draw on 15 July, Xinhua reported.