Despite sending a weakened team to this year’s edition of the Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh, Palestine won all four of their games. In the group stage, they defeated the hosts 2-0 before repeating the feat against Sri Lanka. In the semi-final, they overcame Seychelles 1-0 then beat Burundi 3-1 to retain the title they won last year.

With limited matches played since the last FIFA World Ranking, Asia's top 15 remained unchanged with Japan ranked 28th, followed by Islamic Republic of Iran at 31st.

Victory was sealed in a first half blitz which saw Palestine take a 3-0 lead into the break.

Khaled Salem gave Palestine a dream start with his opener after just three minutes and Sameh Maraaba doubled their advantage seven minutes later.

The title was practically sealed after Layth Kharoub made it 3-0 for Palestine in the 26th minute.

Asman Ndikumana pulled one back for Burundi in the 60th minute but it was to prove to be a mere consolation.

Eldor Shomurodov’s fifth and sixth goals of the campaign laid the foundations for the success, one which has edged Uzbekistan ever nearer to an eighth AFC Asian Cup appearance and, in the process, undoubtedly helped ease painful memories of last week’s loss to fellow high-flyers Saudi Arabia.

The result leaves Vadim Abramov’s charges occupying pole position, one point ahead of the second-placed Saudis and a further four clear of a Palestine side whose hopes of progressing have been left hanging by a thread following a fourth successive match without a win.

Winless in their opening three matches, Yemen climbed from fifth to third in Group D with the victory, which was secured thanks to Omar Abdullah Al Dahi’s second-half strike.

Palestine, who played the majority of the match with 10 men after the early dismissal of Mahmoud Abu Warda, dropped one place to fourth, missing the opportunity to climb as high as second at the halfway point of this stage of the Asian Qualifiers.

Facing a Saudi side ranked 31 places above them in the latest FIFA rankings, 101th Palestine dominated from start to finish in front of a large home crowd, but ultimately could not convert their chances.

Singapore had opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw with Yemen while Palestine had defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 and went into the tie against the Southeast Asians as slight favourites.