While co-hosts Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are well placed to qualify for the quarter-finals, Malaysia have been all but eliminated after a brace from Maksim Shatskikh, coupled with strikes from Timur Kapadze, Ulugbek Bakaev and Aziz Ibragimov condemned them to yet another error ridden defeat.

Uzbekistan now have a real chance of progressing through to the tournament's knockout phase along with either China or Iran, who play on Sunday.

In the wake of Malaysia's embarrassing opening 5-1 reverse at the hands of China and Uzbekistan's narrow 2-1 loss to Iran, both coaches made four changes each with the most noticeable being the return from suspension of four-time Uzbekistan player of the year and captain Shatskikh.

Watched by yet another sparse Kuala Lumpur crowd, Malaysia could have been behind within two minutes, but Uzbek defender Anzur Ismailov headed wide when well placed from Server Djeparov's corner.

Uzbekistan duly turned their good early possession into something more tangible by taking the lead on 10 minutes.

Rosdi Talib's foul on Bakaev resulted in Djeparov's free-kick being floated across the box to the far post where an unmarked Shatskikh scored with ease.

Undaunted by the early setback, Malaysia pressed forward and Shahrulnizam Mustapha came close to restoring parity with a 15th minute drive from the edge of Uzbekistan's penalty area.

Shatskikh, a regular in Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev, then tested Malaysia goalkeeper Azizon Kadir with a rasping free-kick on 29 minutes before, 60 seconds later, Uzbekistan doubled their lead in emphatic fashion.

Dreadful hesitancy in the home defence saw midfielder Timur Kapadze ghost past the half-hearted challenges of both Hussain Khaironnisam and K Nanthakumar and rifle home a well-struck low shot past Azizon in the Malaysia goal.

Hardi Jaafar tested Uzbek stopper Ignatiy Nesterov with a free-kick, before disaster struck once again for Malaysia as, in first half stoppage time, Azizon brought down Bakaev to concede a penalty, which the Uzbek forward cracked past the offending keeper.

Uzbekistan continued to dominate after the break, and Shatskikh went close again on 48 minutes, although from Djeparov's delightful pass the 28-year-old's shot flashed inches wide of Azizon's post.

Substitute Ibragimov then surged forward moments before the hour mark, although the Slovan Bratislava defender's effort was deflected over the bar following a neat passing move involving Shatskikh.

Indra Putra, scorer of Malaysia's consolation effort against the Chinese, nearly reduced the deficit shortly after but, after escaping the attentions of Hayrulla Karimov, he could only drag his shot tamely wide.

With Uzbekistan controlling virtually everything, Djeparov crashed a shot against the bar, although Khaironnisam did test Nesterov at his near post in what was a case of too little too late for Malaysia.

Ibragimov then converted Pavel Solomin's cross on 85 minutes and Shatskikh bagged his second to help Uzbekistan register their biggest win at Asia's premier competition.