ABU DHABI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan stayed on track for a record-extending fifth title after defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 tie at the Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah on Monday.
Also on Monday, holders Australia breathed a sigh of relief after advancing on penalties against Uzbekistan, while hosts the United Arab Emirates needed extra time to defeat debutants Kyrgyztan 3-2.
While Japan were lacking in clear-cut opportunities in the opening period, they ensured their strike-rate was second to none.
One shot on target was all they needed to go ahead, as Takehiro Tomiyasu towered to head home his first Samurai Blue goal.
Saudi Arabia were limited largely to efforts from distance, with Hatan Bahbri causing Suhuichi Gonda's blood pressure to rise with a superb effort that ended up inches wide.
With Juan Antonio Pizzi's side going all out to try to force the issue after the break, Japan were afforded opportunities on the break though, much to their frustration, their clinical nature deserted them.
This saw the Green Falcons look most likely to strike back, but Bahbri and Ali Hadi Albulayhi spurned their clearest chances to level as the Japanese backline stood firm to progress in the face of consistent pressure, teeing up an intriguing quarterfinal test against Vietnam.
At Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Australia took their time to wake up in this last-16 encounter and Uzbekistan so nearly made them pay.
Eldor Shomurodov came close to bagging his fifth of the tournament, having burst through the Socceroos rearguard, but Mathew Ryan covered his angles well.
Javokhir Sidikov's effort from distance left the keeper as a spectator, however, it whistled narrowly past the upright.
After the break Australia rediscovered their zest, rocking the Uzbekis onto the back foot having survived the earlier onslaught.
The introduction of Mathew Leckie saw Graham Arnold's side add a dose of incision to their output, but extra time followed as they were unable to pick the lock.
With neither side fashioning a clear opportunity in the final 30 minutes, it was left to Ryan to pull off a pair of saves in the shoot-out - his first for the national side - before Leckie tucked home the winning spot-kick.
Meanwhile, arguably the best was saved for last on the day as the hosts faced a tricky test against debutants Kyrgyztan in a dramatic back-and-forth contest.
Khamis Esmaeel opened the scoring with his header just under a quarter of an hour into the match, however, Mirlan Murzaev equalized for the Central Asians to score their first ever knockout stage goal in competition history.
Ali Mabkhout put the hosts back in front midway through the second half, beating Kyrgyz goalkeeper Kutman Kadyrbekov.
Mabkhout has now been involved in nine goals in his 10 Asian Cup games for UAE since the start of the 2015 tournament.
Just when it looked like UAE had the result settled, Tursunali Rustamov had other ideas as he equalized with a header in stoppage time to send the match to extra time.
Ahmed Khalil converted the winning goal from the penalty spot just before the extra-time break to send the hosts through to set up a quarterfinal with Australia.
