Vietnam national team unfortunately lost points against China in the last minute of extra time

The Espanyol striker netted in the fifth minute of added time after Vietnam had fought back from going two goals down and looked set to claim a share of the points before Wu’s sensational winner.

Goals from Zhang Yuning and Wu looked to be sending the Chinese on their way to all three points in the United Arab Emirates, but strikes from Ho Tan Tai and Nguyen Tien Linh in the final 10 minutes pulled Vietnam level.

But Wu Lei’s winner means China have claimed their first victory after back-to-back defeats against Australia and Japan last month while Vietnam remain rooted to the bottom of the group after three rounds of matches.

Li Tie’s team was boosted ahead of kick-off when defender Zhang Linpeng was declared fit enough to start after picking up a hip injury in the loss against Japan last month while Zhang Yuning started in attack alongside Ai Kesen.

That move almost paid dividends with a little over a minute on the clock when the Beijing FC forward’s close-range flick almost caught out goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong while Wu Lei forced the Vietnamese custodian to collect moments later.

Vietnam settled, however, and Tan Truong was happy to watch Ai Kesen’s free-kick from 25 metres fly over the bar before Nguyen Quang Hai caused concern at the other end, almost forcing Zhang Yuning to put the ball into his own net with an angled free-kick from the right.

Eight minutes into the second half, Zhang Yuning was able to celebrate as China finally unlocked the Vietnamese defence. Ai Kesen’s flick was steered into Wu’s path and, after Tan Truong saved the Espanyol striker’s effort, the 24-year-old rolled the ball home.

Nguyen Hoang Duc forced Yan Junling into a flying save in the 63rd minute but, with a quarter of an hour remaining, the Chinese doubled their lead when Wu was left with time to meet Wang Shenchao’s cross from the left, leaving Tan Truong with no chance.

Vietnam gave themselves a lifeline five minutes later when Tan Tai controlled Hoang Duc’s punt forward before thumping his shot past Yan Junling and Tien Linh then slotted home in the 90th minute to pull Park’s team level.

But Wu Lei combined with Wang Shenchao again deep into injury time as the Shanghai Port defender threw in another cross from the left, allowing the striker to cap the most thrilling of finishes.