Speaking after the match which India could have won in the dying seconds when Farukh Choudhary was denied by China PR goalkeeper Yan Junling at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Constantine said he was pleased with the performance.

“We have shown in the last four years that we are a very difficult team to beat. We may not have the quality which some of the other teams in Asia have. But I stand for my team physically and competitively against any team in Asia. The boys were outstanding today.

The clash at the Al Kuwait Sports Club signals the start of a new era in Australian football, with Graham Arnold less than 48 hours away from the first match of his second stint in charge of the men's national team.

And Meulensteen said fans should expect to see plenty of attacking intent from Australia in the first of three important friendlies before the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE.

“We all are very keen to make a statement. I’m sure the players are,” he said.

Australia have not played since bowing out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a decision designed to give Arnold time to implement his new ideas and philosophies.

Four years after Korea Republic had pipped Japan to the bronze medal at the AFC Asian Cup 2007, beating them 6-5 on penalties in the third-place decider, the eternal rivals locked horns again.

This time, a place in the final was at stake. Doha, which had hosted the first-ever AFC Asian Cup encounter between the two sides back in 1988, was the venue once more.

Suzhou: China PR and India played to a 0-0 draw at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

While India had a couple of chances to score, China PR dominated but failed to convert their superiority into goals.

China PR took control from the first blow of the referee's whistle, forcing India to defend in numbers.

However, it was India who had the first real chance of the match when Sunil Chhetri played the ball to Pronay Halder, who was quick to relay it to Anirudh Thapa.

Thapa sent a perfect pass to the overlapping Pritam Kotal but his shot was well saved by China goalkeeper Yan Junling.

Korea Republic scored a major win as they beat World No 5 Uruguay 2-1, Japan defeated Panama 3-0, Qatar edged Ecuador 4-3, Palestine overcame Tajikistan on penalties to take the Bangabhandu Gold Cup while Saudi Arabia produced a fighting performance in their 2-0 loss to five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil.

The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Executive Committee approved the recommendation to align the AFC’s national teams competitions with the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game (LOTG) announced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “The entire Continent is eagerly awaiting Asia’s most prestigious tournament and it is, therefore, essential that the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 adopts the latest regulations as we strive to stage a truly unforgettable spectacle.

“I am confident the new regulations will add to the excitement of Asia’s flagship national team competition and further strengthen the AFC’s ambitions to be the world’s leading Confederation.”

Thailand and Syria recorded wins, the United Arab Emirates played to a draw against Honduras while Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon suffered defeats.

Barcelona: The United Arab Emirates, aiming to impress on home soil, secured a 1-1 draw with Honduras with talisman Omar Abdulrahman's 32nd minute strike giving them a share of the spoils at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic in Barcelona.

Honduras had taken an 18th minute lead through Romell Quioto, who scored with a right-footed shot from close range to the top right corner of the UAE net.

UAE fought back and were rewarded when Abdulrahman found the back of the net with a right-footed effort after receiving the ball from Ismaeil Matar.