In the earlier match, Saudi Arabia, riding on two penalties, beat Morrocco 2-1. Mohammed Abdulla Abu Zaban and Ahmed Ali Azhak scored for Saudi Arabia off the penalties, while Abdul Hafez pulled one back for Morrocco.

The four-nation tournament is a tune-up for the Under-19 Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia from 29 October.

Uzbekistan drew first blood off a goalkeeping blunder by UAE’s Yousef Abdul Rahman Ali. Uzbekistan defender Sherzod Azamov, who plays for Mashal Mubarek, pounced on the rebound after goalkeeper Yousef Abdul Rahman Ali fumbled with the collection, and slammed it home in the 12th minute.

UAE still called the shots but what they lacked was finishing. They were also up against a stoic Uzbek backline which let nothing through.

UAE’s seven corners in the first half alone, spoke for their dominance, but they couldn’t translate that into goals. UAE’s Ahmed Ali came up with a brilliant solo from the left flank but his shot went wide again, in another instance.

Then, Zyab Awana saw his effort blocked by Uzbek goalkeeper Donierjon Usmanov, off a Nasar Mubarak pass from the right, as UAE went into half-time with a goal in deficit.

Uzbekistan relied on the counter and that paid dividends. Also, a weak UAE defence helped matters for the country which was formerly part of the Soviet Union.

They increased their lead, again off a goalkeeping lapse by Yousef Abdul Rahman Ali. Uzbekistan’s Oybek Kilichev, who plays for champion club FC Pakhtakor Tashkent, saw the goalkeeper Yousef Abdul Rahman Ali out of position and ballooned it over him for the second goal.

The UAE seemed resigned with the result when a sudden spark from substitute Rashed Issa spurred them on during the fag end. Issa came agonisingly close but his header shaved the left upright and went out.

With three minutes to go for the whistle, substitute Mahir Jasim scored off a superb solo and suddenly, UAE looked a lot more threatening and on the brink of an equaliser. But it was not to be.