Palestine went in front in the fifth minute when Khalid Abuaelhaija caught goalkeeper Ahamed Shareef flat footed, firing his free-kick from the right of the penalty area into the top corner of the Sri Lankan goal.

Five minutes into the second half Palestine added their second after the Sri Lankan defence failed to clear a corner and Ali Al Tamra stepped forward to side-foot a low shot past Shareef.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 10 men when Mohamed Faadhil was dismissed for a rash lunge on Qais Taha, and it was Taha who claimed Palestine’s third with 18 minutes remaining as his cross from the left bounced in the area and skipped past Shareef.

Ibrahim Abuillan headed in from close range with five minutes left to score his side’s fourth, the substitute nodding into an empty net after Hasoun’s shot had come back off the crossbar. Oday Hasoun then tapped in the fifth in the second minute of added time to complete a comfortable win.

The win moves Palestine onto three points from their opening two games having suffered a 2-1 loss to Kyrgyz Republic on Wednesday.

Kyrgyz Republic took only 18 seconds to open the scoring with Beknaz Almazbekov cleverly nodding home Kimi Merk's goal-bound shot from close range.

The lead only lasted eight minutes as Uzbekistan stormed back to draw level when Rustam Turdimurodov swept home Bekhruzbek Askaraov's low cross from the right.

Uzbekistan were now in full swing as Nordibek Abdurazzokov wriggled away from a couple of markers only to drag his shot just wide of the post.

Abdurazzokov made amends in the 41st minute, breaking through on the left to cut back for Askarov to apply a sidefoot finish with Kyrgyz Republic goalkeeper Sultan Chomoev caught out of position.

A determined Kyrgyz Republic applied the pressure on Uzbekistan in the second half and eventually found the equaliser their play deserved with Arsen Sharshenbekov slamming home a loose ball after it had taken a deflection off Otabek Ahadov.

Tied on four points apiece after two matches, Kyrgyz Republic will next play Sri Lanka on Tuesday while Uzbekistan meet Palestine.