Mohammed Noor’s penalty had given Al Ittihad a deserved first-half lead at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium but Soliev’s introduction just after the hour mark proved crucial for the visitors as the striker was on hand to tap home Denilson’s miscued shot from close range having been on the pitch for barely a minute.

The result ensures a dramatic final round of games in store with Al Ittihad and Zobahan squaring off in a winner takes all clash in Iran, while Bunyodkor will also progress to the last 16 with victory over bottom side Al Wahda provided the Saudis do not beat the current Group B leaders. If Al Ittihad lose then a point will be enough for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men.

The picture had looked very different for the Uzbeks though following an opening 45 minutes that suggested their AFC Champions League decline would prove terminal.

Following a lively start from the visitors, Al Ittihad began to take control and thought they had taken the lead in the 13th minute when Bunyodkor keeper Ignatiy Nesterov stopped Manaf Abushgeer’s header on the line and Abdelmalek Ziaya poked home only for the goal to be ruled out as the striker was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of the custodian’s hands. Nesterov, though, may have been slightly fortunate to get the decision.

Saud Khariri saw a drive flash over the bar after Nesetrov’s punch had fallen to the midfielder on the edge of the box before Denilson sliced woefully wide at the other end after Jasur Hasanov had picked out the Brazilian in space in the box.

Al Ittihad then took the lead in the 38th minute. Joao Victor’s sliding challenge felled Ziaya in the box to concede a penalty and Noor took two steps and sent Nesterov the wrong way from the spot.

Khariri then saw Nesterov comfortably save his long-range effort as Al Ittihad ended the half on top.

Bunyodkor began the second-half with more purpose and Denilson should have done better with a header from Djeparov’s cross.

Anzur Ismailov brought down Noor on the edge of the box but Nesterov managed to claw away the midfielder’s free-kick and Denilson produced a surging run in the 59th minute that ended with the Brazilian dragging his shot beyond the far post.

However, Bunyodkor levelled three minutes later as Djeparov’s cross-field ball picked out an unmarked Denilson in the box and although the latter appeared to have squandered a glorious chance when he scuffed his shot from no more than seven yards out, Soliev arrived at the back post to tap home.

Both sides went in search of a winner but the respective defences proved equal to the task although Hamed Al Montashari just failed to get a decisive touch at the back post after a corner was glanced across goal by Hicham Aboucherouane for what would have been a dramatic stoppage-time winner.