Knowing victory would confirm their progress, the Vietnamese made a promising start with Kristoffer Normann heading wide from close range in the fifth minute while Ratchaburi’s Denilson tried his luck from distance, only for goalkeeper Caique to gather comfortably.

Nam Dinh’s Caio Cesar headed over the bar and Brenner scuffed his attempted scissor kick before team mate Percy Tau threatened for Nam Dinh in the 34th minute, the South African racing inside from the right flank to hit an effort from outside the area that flew just wide.

Tau then sparked the move that saw Ly Cong Hoang Anh put his attempt wide of Kampon Phatomakkakul’s left post with five minutes left in the half, the winger feeding the ball into Brenner, who played Hoang Anh into position only for his shot to be pulled across goal.

Kampon had to be at his sharpest to push Romulo’s strike around the post for a corner four minutes into the second half while at the other end Caique showed his agility, tipping Thanawat Suengchitthawon’s strike over the bar.

It was the hosts who were looking the more likely to score in the second half, with Denilson rising unmarked to send a header into the hands of Caique, who moments later pulled off a fine save to deny Negueba after he cut in from the right to shoot across the target.

The opener eventually came two minutes into time added on at the end of the game when Sidcley thumped his shot into the top corner from close range after the Nam Dinh defence hesitated.

And worse was to come for the side from Vietnam three minutes later when substitute Ikhsan found the bottom corner of Caique’s goal.