The Uruguay-born forward hit a free kick from the edge of the Japanese penalty area that was deflected past goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi by the defensive wall, cancelling out Naohiro Takahara’s opener in the 61st minute.

Japan coach Ivica Osim will feel as if his team squandered two points after dominating for much of the game against a Qatar team that opted to take on a defensive stance throughout the match.

A cagey opening was compounded by Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic’s decision to pack his back line, a tactic that frustrated the three-time winners, who dominated possession but were unable to break through.

Despite Japan’s position of strength, it was the Qataris who carved out the first chance of the game, forcing Kawaguchi into a save in the 17th minute when Mohammad Gholam struck a free kick and the Jubilo Iwata goalkeeper punched the ball clear.

Four minutes later, Shunsuke Nakamura went for goal only for his attempt to be blocked by a Qatari defender.

After the break, Musovic introduced Majdi Siddiq for Mesaad Al Hamad, and the Al Khor midfielder presented an initial threat, playing a one-two with Quintana only for the Japanese defence to snuff out any promise that the move may have held.

However, Japan eventually reclaimed control of the game and in the 57th minute they came close to opening the scoring when Satoru Yamagishi fired over the bar after Takahara’s knock-down found him unmarked eight yards from goal.

Four minutes later, though, Japan were in front. Yasuyuki Konno latched on to a through ball from Kengo Nakamura on the left side of the box before sending a low cross with the outside of his right foot to Takahara at the far post, and the Eintracht Frankfurt man made no mistake.

In the 81st minute, Quintana, who operated alone up front for most of the game, threatened the Japanese goal with a free kick which was just over the bar.

But seven minutes later he had more luck after he was impeded by Yuki Abe and he picked himself up off the turf to fire through the wall and past Kawaguchi.

The game ended on a sour note for the Qataris, however, when Hussein Yasser was sent off for a lunge at Hideo Hashimoto and coach Muzovic was also sent to the stands for protesting too loudly over the call.

BANGKOK – Oman were denied the first shock of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 when substitute Tim Cahill scored an injury-time equaliser as pre-tournament favourites Australia drew 1-1 with the Gulf Sultanate at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday.

The result mirrored Saturday’s result between Group A hosts Thailand and Iraq, leaving all four teams level on points and goal difference after the first round of matches.

Badar Mubarak looked to be the hero for Oman when he opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and just as it was looking as though Australia’s competition debut would end in defeat, the Everton midfielder continued his knack of scoring vital goals for his country when he levelled the tie right at the death.

It was rough justice on the lively Omanis but the four minutes of injury time were always a possibility as their frustrating time-wasting tactics came back to haunt them.

The opening 10 minutes of the match was a scrappy affair with neither side creating any clear cut chances until Ismail Ali, Oman’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals, headed Yousuf Sha’ban’s corner over the bar.

Oman again came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later when Sha’ban dived into the six-yard box in a desperate attempt to get his head on the end of an Ahmed Hadid free-kick swung in from the left.

The Socceroos seemed to be labouring in the Bangkok humidity and shortly after Brett Emerton had become the first player to enter Seychellois referee Eddy Maillet’s book Australia mustered their clearest effort at goal.

Harry Kewell, who had earlier attempted to win a penalty by falling to the ground under minimal contact from defender Hassan Yousuf Madhafar, was perfectly placed in the apex of the six-yard-box to hammer home Luke Wilkshire’s 20th minute free-kick but the injury-prone Liverpool attacker took his eye off the ball and knocked it across goal instead of into the back of the net.

The Gulf side, playing in only their second Asian Cup finals, took the lead in the 32nd minute when Imad Ali picked up possession on the left side deep into Austrailian territory.

The Qatar Sports Club forward, who scored three times in Oman’s debut Asian Cup campaign, tried to set up Ismail Al Ajmi but while he failed to connect with pass the ball landed fortuitously into the path of Badar Mubarak whose low shot had too much purchase for Mark Schwarzer to keep out.

Australia had the chance to hit back immediately but recently-signed Newcastle United striker Mark Viduka swept a free-kick high and wide before Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was out sharply to deny Mark Bresciano, after the Palermo midfielder had superbly controlled the ball to set up the 41st minute chance.

Three minutes after the restart Oman almost doubled their lead when Ahmed Mubarak cleverly created space for a low shot from just outside the area, but Schwarzer got down well to push the ball to safety.

The Middlesbrough keeper again came to his side’s rescue in the 70th minute with a timely one-handed save from Imad Ali’s header following a move that started with Oman keeper Ali Al Habsi punching clear a Wilkshire corner.

With 13 minutes left to play Schwarzer was again the saviour for Australia with a smart block from Fawzi Basheer, although the midfield dynamo, who came on for goal scorer Badar Mubarak on the hour mark, should have put the game beyond any doubt.

Oman were punished for the profligacy and their numerous unnecessary injury stoppages when Cahill fired home the rebound after Al Habsi could only parry Bresciano’s shot back to the feet of the former Samoa youth international, who was only cleared to play for Australia in 2004.

HANOI - Vietnam opened their AFC Asian Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates as second half goals from Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh ensured a surprise triumph over the Gulf Cup champions on Sunday.

The UAE had the better of the scoring opportunities in the first half with lively strike duo Faisal Khalil and Ismail Matar posing a constant threat to the co-hosts.

But after the UAE failed to take their chances, Alfred Riedl’s side took the lead just after the hour mark through Quang Thanh before 21-year-old Cong Vinh wrapped up the win to blow Group B, which also contains defending champions Japan and Qatar, wide open.

The UAE threatened in the closing stages, but failed to really trouble home goalkeeper Hong Son Duong as Vietnam claimed a historic victory.

The game began at a frantic pace in an electric atmosphere created by a near sell-out crowd at the My Dinh National Stadium, but neither side created a real opening with Khalil’s early shot, which was blocked on the edge of the area, the only real threat inside the opening 15 minutes.

Vietnam came within inches of opening the scoring with 16 minutes on the watch as Quang Thanh’s teasing free-kick from the right was flicked the wrong side of the upright by Dong Thap striker Phan Thanh Binh, while at the other end Matar curled a free-kick from the edge of the area just wide of the post.

Song Lam Nghe An custodian Son Duong kept the scores level after 30 minutes with a full length diving save after Khalil had broke into the area and looked to find the bottom corner with a low shot.

The home side came out of the blocks firing at the start of the second half and it took a diving save from UAE goalkeeper Majed Naser to deny Nguyen Vu Phong’s stinging low shot from the edge of the area before the custodian quickly regained his feat to comfortably save Binh Phan’s follow-up shot.

A flying Matar was felled on the edge of the area before the hour mark and after penalty appeals were waved away, the Al Wahda striker chipped the resulting free-kick over the bar.

Vietnam delighted the passionate home crowd four minutes after the hour mark as Quang Thanh pounced on Nguyen Minh Phuong’s chipped pass into the area and gave a helpless Naser no chance from close range.

The home side almost doubled the lead a minute later as Naser did well to parry Thanh Binh’s powerful close range strike and Vu Phuong scooped the rebound over the bar.

The crucial second goal came with 17 minutes remaining as Cong Vinh beat the UAE offside trap to lob Vu Phong’s lofted pass over an advancing Naser from the edge of the area.