KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Reuters) - Substitute Javad Kazemian struck in the 77th minute to give Iran a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their Asian Cup Group C match on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old rescued a largely disappointing Iran side,

who struggled to find their rhythm against the combative

Central Asians.

Uzbekistan, with main striker Maksim Shatskikh suspended,

took the lead on 15 minutes through an own goal by Iran

defender Rahman Rezaei.

Iran levelled in the 55th minute when Seyed Jalal Hosseini

scored from a corner before Kazemian emerged as the hero.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team's superior fitness

was the key.

'When I took over this team, my first priority was to

improve fitness levels,' he told reporters. 'After 60 minutes,

that was when we really started to dominate Uzbekistan because

our players were fit and able to compete better.

'Uzbekistan prepared well and it was difficult getting used

to the heat in Kuala Lumpur but I am satisfied to have a win in

our first game.'

The victory put Iran in second place in Group C behind

China, who beat hosts Malaysia 5-1 on Tuesday. The top two

teams advance to the quarter-finals.

With both teams playing cautiously, Uzbekistan took an

unlikely lead. Captain Server Djeparov sent a high ball forward

trying to find striker Ulugbek Bakaev.

Rezaei, under pressure from Bakaev, tried to head back to

goalkeeper Hassan Rodbarian but only succeed in finding the

back of his own net.

Iran came out more determined in the second half and

equalised after captain Mehdi Mahdavikia made his first foray

upfield.

The skipper sent in a testing corner from the left and

defender Hosseini rose high to head past Uzbek goalkeeper Pavel

Bugalo.

Kazemian settled it for Iran when he received Andranik

Teymourian's through ball on the edge of the box and drilled it

past Bugalo.

Tempers frayed on the sidelines towards the end of the

match with Ghalenoei sent to stands by Kuwaiti referee Saad Al

Fadhli for apparently throwing a water bottle at the fourth

official, though the coach said his anger was directed at one

of his players.