Iraq twice trailed in their opener against Vietnam, but produced a late fightback to collect three valuable points in a five-goal thriller at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

After the win against Vietnam, Katanec believes his team are well prepared to face Yemen.

The recently-crowned AFF Cup champions may have among the youngest squads in the AFC Asian Cup but that, promised Park, won't stop them from giving Carlos Queiroz's Iran a tough fight.

And Iran, said Queiroz, expect that from a side the Team Melli head coach is highly impressed with.

The three-time champions opened their campaign on a high note, defeating Yemen 5-0 on Monday, but Ghoddos admitted Iran had gone into the match nervous.

"It’s not easy to play the first game in a tournament. It’s always stressful and nervous and you’re trying to do your best so sometimes the play can be a bit stiff, but we showed a good result by scoring five goals and keeping a clean sheet.

"So that’s very important and we have big confidence in the team now," said the midfielder, who plays for Amiens SC in the French Ligue One.

With Vietnam to the fore, Iraq trailed 2-1 at half-time before substitute Humam Tareq fired home a 60th minute equaliser and Adnan’s last gasp free-kick sealed all three points for Srečko Katanec’s charges, who went second in Group D following their success.

Originally named as a substitute, the livewire Tareq was brought on in the 58th minute and duly netted a vital equaliser just two minutes later courtesy of a thunderous finish.

With the Esteghlal star to the fore, Iraq pressed for a winner and their persistence paid handsome dividends when Ali Adnan converted a last gasp free-kick to seal all three points for the Lions of Mesopotamia.

Champions in 2007, Iraq had been behind twice before Adnan’s sublime set-piece secured all three points for Srečko Katanec’s relieved charges against a highly rated Vietnam side at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium.

At a competition where, so far at least, several of the region’s powerhouses have had things far from their own way, the victory saw Iraq go second in the Group D standings, behind the Islamic Republic of Iran who top the table following their 5-0 win over Yemen a day earlier.

Mehdi Taremi scored twice as the three-time AFC Asian Cup champions, who reached the quarter-finals last time out in Australia, excelled throughout and underlined their title credentials in what is their 14th consecutive appearance at Asia’s premier competition.

Iran’s success sees them go top of the Group D standings ahead of Tuesday’s encounter between fellow group hopefuls Iraq and Vietnam.