Yoshinori Muto and Tsukasa Shiotani scored for Japan after Eldor Shomurodov had given Uzbekistan the lead and Hector Cuper’s side will now face Australia in the Round of 16 while the Japanese will face the Group E runners-up, either Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

Moriyasu made 10 changes from the team that started the 1-0 win over Oman, with striker Koya Kitagawa the only player to survive the Japan coach’s decision to overhaul his line-up.

Oman's reward for sealing a spot in the UAE 2019 knockout stage for the first time in four appearances at the Finals is a meeting with either Group C winners Korea Republic or Islamic Republic of Iran, who topped Group D.

With the top two spots in the group not within reach, Japan finishing as group winners with a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan, both sides were playing for third place which a win by two goals would seal.

Turkmenistan had produced a gritty performance in their opener before going 3-2 down to Japan but found Uzbekistan too strong as they fell 4-0. Oman, meanwhile, suffered one goal defeats to both - 2-1 to Uzbekistan and 1-0 to Japan.

Having already qualified for the Round of 16, Wednesday’s 2-0 win over regional rivals China PR made it three wins from three for Paulo Bento’s charges as they claimed pole position in Group C without conceding a goal.

Despite his side’s flying start, Son, who only joined the squad earlier this week, is adamant that the two-time champions of Asia remain determined to improve even further.

Having each won their first two matches, the teams went into the game with their places in the last 16 secured but, level on six points apiece, top spot remained up for grabs, although it was Iran who led on goal difference to mean a draw would see them finish in first place.

But much of the talk in the build-up centred on the incredible 3-3 draw in the quarter-finals of the 2015 competition – a game that Beiranvand watched from the bench – when Iraq prevailed 7-6 on penalties in what was one of the most memorable matches in the tournament’s history.

Victory by three goals or more would have guaranteed the Southeast Asians a place in the last 16 but, while Nguyen Quang Hai and Que Ngoc Hai secured the Vietnamese their first AFC Asian Cup win since 2007, the outcome of Thursday’s final matches in the group phase of the competition will determine whether they remain in the United Arab Emirates.

The win was Kyrgyz Republic's first ever at the Continental Finals, with striker Vitalij Lux bagging all three goals on a day that will live long in the memory in the Central Asian nation.

Speaking before Vietnam's subsequent 2-0 win over Yemen which confirmed his side's place in the Round of 16, Krestinin acknowledged his team's efforts.

The three-time champions sealed top spot in Group D following a 0-0 draw with Iraq on Wednesday, edging the West Asians on goal difference after both team finished on seven points.

Team Melli now await their Round of 16 opponents, the best third-placed team from either Group B, E or F, and Queiroz said he has to get his players ready for the business end of the competition.