Keiji Tamada's goal five minutes from half-time cancelled out Maksim Shatskikh's opener at Saitama Stadium, but it was a much-needed point for the visitors, who lost both their opening Group One games against Qatar and Australia.

Shatskikh netted the Uzbeks' first goal of the final phase of qualifying after 27 minutes, only for Tamada to level for the home side.

Uzbekistan then held on for a draw thanks to a sturdy defensive performance and some excellent goalkeeping from Ignatiy Nesterov.

Japan had the upper hand for the opening half-hour but it was Uzbekistan who struck first.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka's attempted bicycle kick clearance in midfield ballooned towards Ildar Magdeev and he headed on towards Timur Kapadze.

Kapadze delivered a low cross which Shatskikh slid past goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki in the six-yard box.

Japan came close to a reply in the 38th minute when Shunsuke Nakamura and Atsuto Uchida worked a clever one-two but the former's square ball across the face of goal just eluded the stretching Shinji Kagawa.

Two minutes later, however, Japan were back on level terms when Yoshito Okubo knocked Nakamura's left-wing cross back towards Tamada and he stabbed home from close range.

Tamada volleyed Uchida's cross wide seven minutes into the second-half but Japan found chances at a premium as their resolute opponents proved tough to break down.

Nesterov produced a fantastic save to turn away Tamada's strike in the 70th minute and the forward was again left frustrated a minute later when Asror Alikulov somehow managed to deflect his shot over the bar.

The Uzbek keeper came to his side's rescue once more at the death when he brilliantly repelled Tulio's header as the visitors finally got their campaign up and running.