Arsenal Kyiv striker Maksim Shatskikh netted in the 72nd minute to give the visitors a share of top spot in Group C with Japan, which won 1-0 at home against North Korea.

Shatskikh’s goal followed a penalty awarded after Tajik defender Davronjon Ergashev brought down Uzbek forward Alexander Geynrikh in the area.

Maksim Shatskikh took the spot-kick, only to see his shot toward the right-hand corner parried by goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev. However, the striker quickly pounced on the loose ball and clinically slotted home.

Uzbekistan controlled the match flow and had several chances to score, but the Uzbek players failed to convert them to goals. Meanwhile, Tajikistan played on counterattacks, but Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov kept clean-sheet.

Japan’s last-minute victory against North Korea earlier Friday leaves it joint top of its four-team group with Uzbekistan.