Arash Afshin opened the scoring in the 70th minute before being sent off for a second bookable offence two minutes later.

Khalid Sebil was also dismissed soon after for the UAE before Iran then wrapped up the win with an 83rd-minute Mohammad Nori strike and a stoppage-time own goal from Walid Abbas.

Iran progress to the knockout stage as Group D winners and take on South Korea on Saturday in a battle for a place in the semi-finals.

With qualification already secured, Iran made a raft of changes and it was not surprising that it was the UAE who dominated the opening exchanges.

Subait Khater was the first to threaten for either side when he launched a shot from distance straight at Iran goalkeeper Shahab Gordon before Ahmad Khalil saw his low drive bounce back off the woodwork.

The Iranians were offering little in terms of attacking threat but finally mustered a chance just before the half-hour, when Nori sent a first-time shot just wide.

However, the UAE quickly regained control and finished the half strongly as Khalil fired a free-kick over the bar before Ismail Matar's 44th-minute effort was just off target.

There was once again a dearth of chances early in the second half and it was not until the 60th minute that a shot on target was registered with Ghasem Hadadifar's volley needing UAE keeper Majed Nasser to push away for a corner.

However, the stalemate was finally broken in the 70th minute with the goal going the way of the Iranians. Mohammad Gholami hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before Afshin was on hand to stab home the rebound.

But Afshin had little time to celebrate his strike as he was sent off for his second bookable offence two minutes later after going in strong on Nasser when attempting to challenge for the ball.

The UAE were also reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when Khalid Sebil was shown a second yellow for taking the legs of Iran's Hadadifar.

Iran then dominated the closing stages and wrapped up the win as Nori scored in the 83rd minute and Abbas then put the ball in the back of his own net in stoppage time when attempting to deny Gholam Reza Rezaei.