Al Wakrah got in the groove quickly with Moayed Hassan’s long range attempt having to be parried away by Ravshan keeper Yevhen Hrytsenko.

The Iraqi side, who already booked their place in the Round of 16, tested Ravshan again in the 15th minute after Alexander Scholz sent a deep lob to Moayed Hassan, whose volleyed attempt from inside the area was denied by Hrytsenko.

Ravshan’s efforts barely troubled the home side with Sorbon Ghiyosov, Muhammadjon Rahimov and Masrur Kiyomidinov all failing to find the target from distance.

David Mawutor had a chance for Ravhsan in the 36th minute but the Ghanaian midfielder ballooned his free-kick before Masrur Kiyomidinov saw his shot sail over the bar after Kojo Matic’s instinctive cutback.

Both teams toiled in front of goal with Al Wakrah’s Omar Al Osad seeing his shot from above the box blocked, while Mawutor failed to test the Iraqi side following a counter-attacking sequence as Ravshan failed to get a single shot on target in the first half.

Al Wakrah came close to taking the lead in the 50th minute after Farid Boulaya sent a cross into the box for Nasser Al Yazidi, whose headed attempt from close range was foiled by Hrytsenko.

The Tajikistan side, yet to register a point, stunningly took the lead five minutes later after Sorbon Ghiyosov broke free down the right flank with a surging run before setting up Azizbek Khaitov to strike past keeper Omair Al Sayed.

The visitors came close to doubling their advantage in the 61st minute after Masrur Kiyomidinov set up an unmarked Mawutor, only for the midfielder to strike the crossbar.

Ravshan then exploited Al Wakrah’s weaker right flank with Matic dispossessing Farid Boulaya before striding down and laying the ball for Amirdzhon Safarov to strike home their second in the 81st minute.