Timor-Leste enjoyed the better start to the game with Mouzinho racing through on the left but found Maldives custodian Hussain Shareef to be at the top of his game to save his stinging low drive in the sixth minute.

Shareef again came to the rescue of the South Asians in the 23rd minute, standing his ground to block Claudio Osorio’s close range effort after the midfielder latched onto Paulo Freitas’ superb through pass.

Against the run of play, Maldives went close to taking the lead three minutes later through Ali Fasir’s well-placed strike that was pushed onto the bar by Timor-Leste goalkeeper Georgino da Silva before Osorio’s effort late in the first half hit the towering figure of Maldives’ captain Samooh Ali.

Timor-Leste were not to be denied right on the 45th minute with Freitas dancing his way into space on the right before delivering a low cross for Joao Pedro to finish at the far post to give the Southeast Asian side the lead at the break.

The host continued to dominate after the restart with Pedro smashing an effort against the bar before Shareef kept Maldives in the game with a point-blank stop to deny Osorio just after the hour mark.

Despite their misfiring attack, Timor-Leste rarely looked in danger of conceding as they comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to seal their first win.