Normally unflappable defender Rahman Rezaei put the triple-champions in trouble with a first-half own goal before Seyed Jalal Hosseini levelled and substitute Javad Kazemian took the points with a late winner.

Combustible Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei lived up to his reputation when he was sent to the stands late in the match.

Iran trail China on goal-difference at the top of Group C with the top two teams progressing to the quarterfinals. They play China on Sunday and Malaysia on Wednesday.

In front of a paltry crowd at Malaysia's National Stadium, Uzbekistan were the first to threaten when Timur Kapadze met a cross from the left and headed straight at Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian.

Iran striker Vahid Hashemian, running on to an Ali Karimi ball, tested Uzbekistan's Pavel Bugalo at the other end with a left-footed effort in the opening exchanges.

But Rezaei put Iran in serious difficulty on 16 minutes when, under pressure from striker Ulugbek Bakaev, he nodded a hopeful bouncing ball over advancing 'keeper Roudbarian.

Despite the jolt Iran struggled to produce meaningful chances and it was Uzbekistan who almost doubled their lead when Kapadze headed wide from a free-kick hoisted in to the box by captain Server Djeparov.

Iran could have equalised near half-time but Al Emarat forward Rassoul Khatibi glanced his header wide from Hashemian's cross.

However, the regional heavyweights emerged from the break with renewed purpose and were back on equal terms within 10 minutes when defender Hosseini headed captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner down and into the net.

Reza Enayati looked odds-on to put Iran in front when he met a drag-back but his shot was scrambled wide.

Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam headed straight at Bugalo and Kapadze had a one-on-one effort parried away by Iran's Roudbarian as the game sprang to life. But it was half-time substitute Kazemian who snatched it for Iran, running on to Andranik Teymourian's through-ball and finishing coolly with his right foot on 77 minutes.

Iran are bidding to break a 31-year title drought after winning three in a row from 1968-1976. They have not made the final since despite reaching the last four on five separate occasions.

Uzbekistan were quarterfinalists in 2004 and narrowly missed out on qualifying for last year's World Cup. The Central Asian team's finest moment was winning the Asian Games title on debut in 1994.