Defending champions China needed a last-minute equalizer to hold underdog Vietnam to a 3-3 draw in the AFC U-17 Championship at the Bishan Stadium on Wednesday.

Vietnam, who were down to 10 men, squandered a two-goal half-time lead as the Chinese succeeded in snatching a draw from the mouths of defeat.

Tran Viet Trung put Vietnam ahead in the 29th minute and Dao Ngoc Phuoc made it 2-0 two minutes later. Wang Yunlong reduced the deficit from the spot in the 64th minute but Nguyen Van Tran restored Vietnam's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute.

Vietnam midfielder Le Xuan Truong was given his marching orders after he picked up his second yellow card in the 72nd minute.

China grabbed the opportunity and made repeated forays into the rival citadel. Wang Yunlong scored his brace with a header in the 79th minute to make it 3-2 and substitute Ma Long scored the equaliser for China in the last minute.

The results left the group wide open with Vietnam and China on four points each with the former leading on the basis of better goal difference.

China will face Bangladesh in the last group match on Friday while Syria face Vietnam on the same day.

(the-afc.com September 7, 2006)