In the other match, Indonesia thrashed Chinese Taipei 6-1 to put themselves in a good position to claim one of the top two positions in the group.

Nodir Elibaev gave the Uzbeks a seventh-minute lead and Hurshid Tajibaev added a second three minutes later.

Khaled Takaji, who was sent off just before the end, reduced the deficit for Lebanon on 34 minutes but the Uzbeks had the last say with Dilshod Irsaliev scoring their third in the 40th minute.

Uzbekistan were favoured to win the game and enjoyed most of the possession in the early exchanges.

The Lebanese, facing a 2-0 half-time deficit, can out stronger after the interval and gave themselves hope with Takaji’s strike. But the home side recovered to put distance between themselves and their opponents with Irsaliev’s late goal.

In the other group game, Chinese Taipei scored after just one minute through Fang Ching-jen but after that it was all Indonesia, who had goals from Ali Haidar, Victor Hutabarat, Socrates Matulessy, Jaelani Ladjanibi, Deny Handoyo and Benny Hera.

On Monday, Uzbekistan face Indonesia in what could prove to be the table-topping decider for Group A. Lebanon, meanwhile, are hoping to bounce back against Chinese Taipei.