Nguyen Quang Hai came close on a couple of occasions for Vietnam and Nguyen Tien Linh was denied a winner at the death by the Emirati goalkeeper as Park’s side settled for a point at Buriram Stadium.

After a quiet opening 15 minutes, Nguyen Quang Hai nearly struck first for Vietnam. The skipper caught goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi off-guard with curled free-kick from the right flank, but the Emiratis breathed a sigh of relief as the ball passed inches off the outside of the post.

Halfway through the opening period, the UAE were gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Nguyen Thanh Chung failed to clear a cross from the right, allowing Jassim Yaqoob to pounce on the loose ball, but the winger miscued his kick sending the ball wide.

Coach Abdullah Abu Ismael’s men started on the front foot and had their first big chance of the match after 11 minutes when Yazan Al Naimat embarked on a solo run, overtaking two defenders to go through on goal, but his tame finish was caught by goalkeeper Kang Ju-hyok.

Shahad’s side picked up a point in the meeting with the Olyroos on Wednesday despite enduring a difficult pre-tournament preparation period due to the suspension of the Iraqi league, which has left many of his players short of match fitness.

But, with a game under their belts, the coach is confident his team will take a step forward at Thammasat Stadium as they seek to move towards a place in the knockout rounds.

A brace apiece from Suphanat Mueanta and Jaroensak Wonggorn helped the host nation breeze to a comfortable Matchday One victory at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, success which saw them go two points clear at the top of the Group A standings.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s penalty two minutes from time sealed the three points for the Saudis as Al Shehri earned some personal payback for the defeat he suffered at the hands of the Japanese in the final of the AFC U19 Championship in Bahrain in 2016.

But while the Saudi coach would be forgiven for rejoicing at avenging that defeat – which came via a penalty shootout – he chose instead to look to the future, and the prospect of qualifying his country for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1996.

With the match seemingly headed for a goalless draw, 58th-minute substitute Lee scored to snatch the win in the third and final minute of stoppage time, sending Kim’s charges to the top of the Group C table at the end of Matchday One.