AFC - Ulugbek Bakaev netted the only goal as Uzbekistan stunned Iran 1-0 at a damp Azadi Stadium on Wednesday to move to the top of Group A in the final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 33-year-old striker was the man on the spot with 18 minutes left when he dashed into the six-yard box to meet a free-kick by captain Server Djeparov and turned the ball past goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati to give the central Asian side their second win in a row after they had begun their Group A campaign without a victory in their first three games.

Iran had an early effort by Mohammad Nori ruled out for offside but they rarely offered a serious threat otherwise as they failed to score for the third time in five games in the final round.

With the win, Uzbekistan moved to the top of the group with eight points, one ahead of Iran, Qatar and Korea Republic although the Taeguk Warriors have a match in hand.

In spite of the rainy conditions at the Azadi Stadium, the home side began the match brightly and they could have taken the lead as early as the seventh minute when Ashkan Dejagah's inviting cross from the right flank picked out an unmarked Milad Nori who headed wastefully

over the crossbar from eight metres out.

Iran did have the ball in the net in 11th minute when Andranik Teymourian pulled the ball back from the right byline to Mohammad Nori who fired an unerring low shot past goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov into the bottom corner of the net only to see his effort ruled out as Mohammad Khalatbari had strayed into an offside position right in front of Nesterov.

The match became scrappier as the first half developed and nearly boiled over in the 22nd minute when Aziz Haydarov was fouled and then had the ball back-heeled onto his head by Dejagah as he lay sprawled on the Azadi turf. It sparked an altercation between a number of

players from both teams that ended with both Haydarov and Dejagah booked.

While Uzbekistan gradually took control of midfield, Milad Nori remained a threat for Iran as he saw his shot on the turn from the right of the box well stopped by Nesterov late in the first half.

Karim Ansarifard came on for Khalatbari at the half-time break and the substitute nearly got on the scoresheet just two minutes after his introduction when his attempt from 20 metres flew narrowly wide of the left upright.

Djeparov then saw his free-kick from the right flank minutes fly just over the head of Islom Tuhtahujaev and into the grateful arms of Rahmati.

Tempers were frayed again in the 70th minute when Uzbekistan's Sanjar Tursunov was fouled by Mehrdad Pouladi near the right touchline and rolled over the head of the Iranian player as he lay on the ground.

The referee decided against showing any cards but awarded a free-kick to the Uzbeks, which was accurately swung into the six-yard box by the left foot of Djeparov and picked out Bakaev, who diverted the ball past Rahmati on the volley with his outstretched left boot.

Tursunov could have made the game safe shortly afterwards when the ball fell to him in the six-yard box during a goalmouth scramble but his effort was deflected wide of the left post.

Iran turned up the pressure in the closing minutes and they nearly found an equaliser with three minutes left when Milad Nori cut the ball back for Ansarifard who poked his attempt narrowly wide.

Milad Nori did have the ball in the net again for Iran in stoppage time but he was well offside when he received the ball in the Uzbek box.