The hosts started confidently but found themselves behind in the 15th minute after Omid Musawi went past two defenders on the right and passed to Omid Popalzay, whose tame shot from the centre of the box slipped through custodian Zin Nyi Aung’s hands.

Myanmar, however, deservedly equalised in the 28th minute when Mg Mg Lwin’s perfectly weighted pass found Than Paing, who slipped between two defenders in the six yard box to send a sharp header past Ovays Azizi.

The Central Asians came close to going ahead in the 42nd minute but Fareed Sadat’s header from just outside the penalty box went sailing over the bar.

Afghanistan started the stronger side in the second half, with Musawi just failing to connect from close range off a Mosawer Ahadi set-piece in the 65th minute. 

But it was Myanmar who took the lead in the 75th minute when Lwin sent a screamer of a shot from 25 yards that flew past a diving Azizi and into the top left corner of the net.

Afghanistan did their best to level the score, but will have to wait until their next match against Syria on June 10 to find their first win. Myanmar will play Pakistan on the same day.