Bahrain -- who face either Japan or Jordan in the last four next Tuesday -- looked on their way out of the tournament after Mohamed Juma saw his side's second penalty saved by Uzbek keeper Yevgeny Safonov.

Uzbekistan converted their next two kicks to hold the advantage as Bahrain stayed in touch at 3-3 but with the pressure mounting, Uzbekistan's nerve failed them.

Marat Bikmoev blazed the Uzbeks' fourth kick over the bar, allowing Bahrain to take a 4-3 lead with their fifth and final penalty from A'ala Hubail, who had scored both his team's goals in normal time.

Amid unbearable tension, Uzbekistan's Leonid Koshelev screwed his team's final penalty wide and Bahrain were through, sparking delirious celebrations amongst players and officials from the tiny Gulf nation.

Earlier, the Bahrainis had looked set for victory in 90 minutes when a two-goal blast from Hubail put them 2-1 ahead after Uzbekistan had taken the lead on 60 minutes through Alexander Geynrikh's free-kick.

But with just three minutes remaining, Uzbekistan scrambled a dramatic late equaliser. A perfectly weighted pass from CSKA Moscow forward Geynrikh found strike partner Vladimir Shishelov, whose shot beat Bahrain keeper Ali Saeed.

Bahrain almost snatched victory in injury time when Hubail's shot was hooked off the goal-line with a last-ditch clearance by Andrev Fyodorov.

It was the final act of a pulsating second half which saw four goals scored in the final 30 minutes. Geynrikh gave Uzbekistan the lead on the hour mark with a curling free-kick that flew into the top corner past Saeed.

The goal was hard on Bahrain, who had seen a legitimate effort from Talal Yusuf ruled out in the first-half for offside.

The Gulf side showed great character to claw their way back into the game however. Hubail made it 1-1 on 71 minutes when he drove home from close-range after Husain Ali hooked across the face of goal.

Six minutes later Hubail put his side ahead, sweeping home from six yards out after Mohamed Salmeen's cross was parried by Uzbekistan keeper Safonov.

The drama continued in extra-time after Shishelov's last-gasp equaliser. Bahrain had another chance scrambled off the line by Uzbekistan, who also saw Shishelov denied from point-blank range after a save from Saeed.