China's Wu Xi (R) celebrates his goal with team mate Ren Hang during their Asian Cup Group B soccer match against Uzbekistan at the Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane January 14, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei, who saved a penalty in the win over the Saudis, was helpless to stop the ball from flying into the top corner of the net.

Wu made amends by scoring the equaliser in the second half after Jiang Zhipeng's cross from the left floated over the head of Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov, who over-committed, leaving the goal open.

Zhang Chengdong and Gao Lin played the ball back in for the unmarked Wu to blast it into the back of the net.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, China scored again, when Sun, who had come off the bench a few minutes earlier, got the ball inside the Uzbekistan and dribbled downfield.

He got as far as the edge of the box before unleashing a ferocious shot that curled past the outstretched arms of Nesterov and decided the match.