AFC - A Jalal Hosseini header ended Uzbekistan’s 100% record in third round qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Islamic Republic of Iran defeated the Central Asians 1-0 in Tashkent on Thursday.

Uzbekistan came into the tie at Bunyodkor Stadium on the back of two straight 1-0 wins over Syria and Qatar but Hosseini’s goal on 27 minutes proved the difference maker.

Samvel Babayan’s side tried to respond in the second half but having lost playmaker Server Djeparov to injury just before the break, the White Wolves failed to breakdown a stout Iranian defence and suffered their first defeat of the qualifying campaign.

Before kick-off, it was confirmed that Uzbekistan would be without captain Odil Akhmedov due to his inability to recover from injury, while Iran coach Carlos Queiroz made a raft of changes to his midfield and attack with an eye on the crunch match with Korea Republic on Tuesday.

One of those changes, Reza Goochannejhad, who was making his first start for Iran in the final round of qualifiers, could have opened the scoring inside 10 minutes but he sliced his volley high and wide after he was picked out inside the area by full-back Ramin Rezaeian’s fine cross.

Iran did go in front before the half hour mark, though, as centre-back Hosseini connected with a smart header from Masoud Shojaei’s inswinging free-kick from the right that left ‘keeper Aleksandr Lobanov helpless.

And the hosts suffered a further blow five minutes before half-time as two-time AFC Player of the Year and captain on the night Djeparov was withdrawn from the field in a great deal of discomfort to be replaced by Alexander Geynrikh.

Uzbekistan begun the second period strongly and pushed forward in search of the leveller but struggled to penetrate the Iran backline.

Just after the hour, Babayan brought on Jaloliddin Masharipov for the home side with Queiroz responding as Ghoochannejhad made way for Sardar Azmoun.

Inside the final 20 minutes, Masharipov was brought down on the edge of the area in a hugely promising position but Geynrikh’s free-kick summed up Uzbekistan’s night as it hit the wall and rebounded away harmlessly.

And Iran could have ended the match even more comfortably as Azmoun played in Vahid Amiri but Lobanov was quick off his line to deny the midfielder.

Nevertheless, Queiroz’s team were able to see out the remaining minutes to remain undefeated in Group A ahead of Tuesday’s mouth-watering encounter in Tehran with Korea Republic.