Tursunov struck after 13 minutes at Al Sadd Stadium as Uzbekistan followed up back-to-back draws against Lebanon and Korea Republic to lift themselves off the bottom of Group B.

After struggling to breakdown a disciplined Uzbekistan side, Qatar suffered a second defeat of the final round campaign to leave Paulo Autuori's side with four points from four games at the halfway mark in the campaign.

Uzbekistan were forced onto the back foot in the opening quarter of an hour but the visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion after 13 minutes when Akmal Shorakhmedov's cross was met by Tursunov close to the penalty spot and the Russia-based midfielder swivelled and expertly dispatched a first time volley into the bottom corner.

Visiting goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov was then called into action to push away Lawrence Quaye's stinging long-range strike just three minutes later as the home side looked for an instant response after being made to pay for failing to turn their positive start into a breakthrough.

The goal brought Uzbekistan more into the contest as the half progressed and the visitors came close to a second as a well-struck free-kick from captain Server Djeparov but the two-time AFC Player of the Year's effort was acrobatically deflected wide by Qatar striker Sebastian Soria with the ball spearing towards the far corner.

Qatar though, came close to an equaliser in first-half stoppage time as Wesam Rizik's flicked header looked destined for the top corner until Nesterov clawed the ball to safety.

With his side behind at the break, Qatar coach Autuori introduced Hamid Ismaeil and Hasan Al Haydos at half-time but only an alert piece of goalkeeper from Burhan Qasem stopped the home side falling further behind at the start of the second half as a deflected cross from Shorakhmedov threatened to sneak inside the near post.

Qatar continued to look for a response but they were becoming increasingly frustrated as the half progressed, while Uzbekistan enjoyed a considerable amount of comfortable possession although the effects of the heat started to show on the visitors midway through the second 45 minutes.

Autuori used his last substitution to introduce Magid Mohamed with 14 minutes remaining but it was Uzbekistan who looked the more likely to add a second before Qatar substitute Al Haydos drilled an effort just wide with eight minutes remaining with Nesterov sent scrambling across the face of his goal.

Qatar frantically pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but they were unable to create a genuine threat to Nesterov with Uzbekistan coach Kasimov making a number of timely late substitutions to bolster his charges in the energy-sapping conditions.