Vietnam upset the United Arab Emirates in their opening Asian Cup game yesterday while tournament favorites Australia found out the hard way what football on the continent is all about.

The unfancied Vietnamese, who were widely tipped to be the Group B whipping boys, shocked Gulf Cup champions UAE with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of second half goals from defender Huynh Quang Thanh and striker Le Cong Vinh.

Playing at Asian Cup level for the first time in nearly 50 years, they opened the scoring in the 63rd minute and made it 2-0 10 minutes later, sending a packed house at the the My Dinh National Stadium into a frenzy.

"The first goal won the game," said Vietnam's Austrian coach Alfred Riedl.

"Basically we were lucky because the UAE were obviously upbeat after the Gulf Cup. But our players decided everything. It was a good start."

In Bangkok, Australia had Everton star Tim Cahill to thank.

The midfielder's 90th minute goal saved the Socceroos' blushes against an Omani side they were expected to beat.

The injury-time strike to salvage a 1-1 draw in driving rain kept their maiden Asian Cup campaign alive with Thailand and Iraq also sharing honors in Group A on Saturday.

(China Daily via AFP July 9, 2007)