Vietnam produced a vivacious brand of attacking football to see off a spirited Myanmar 2-1 in an AFF Championship Group B match in Yangon on Sunday, thanks to a late winner from their veteran hitman Le Cong Vinh.
Myanmar stunned the 2008 champions by equalising in the 73rd minute before Cong Vinh's magic 10 minutes before the end.
Nguyen Huu Thang's Vietnamese entered the regional showcase as one of the in-form sides, having lost only once this year.
The Golden Stars had also secured a Cup title this year, having won the 2016 AYA Bank Cup in June, and they tuned up for the regional showcase with three wins in their last five games.
They lived to that billing against the co-hosts, who were playing in front of a near-capacity Thuwunna Stadium.
After dominating the opening exchanges, Vietnam took a deserved lead midway through the half, courtesy of Nguyen Van Quyet's exquisite finish.
The Ha Noi T & T forward expertly guided into the bottom corner after Dinh Tanh Trung had threaded a sumptuous through ball, despite two players on his tail.
FULL-TIME | Le Cong Vinh wins it for Vietnam! #AFFSuzukiCup #MYAvVIE
A photo posted by AFF Suzuki Cup (@affsuzukicup) on
Myanmar were restricted to carving out openings on the break, and almost broke through just before the half ended.
Win Naing Soe was, however, left to rue a misdirected header after the team in red put together some neat combination play.
Aung Thu tested Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh with a half volley two minutes after the restart, but the pendulum swung back to their opponents after that.
Le Cong Vinh, who had been quiet until the hour mark, put his brute strength to good use by brushing off a defender to set up Van Quyet, who was clean on goal.
Quyet couldn't add to his tally as Myanmar's Kyaw Zin Phyo was quick off his blocks to smother the shot.
Thuwunna Stadium was buzzing on 73 minutes, as Myanmar leveled through a mercurial Aung Thu strike.
�� Watch Le Cong Vinh's winner for #Vietnam now at https://t.co/QSKBIMy0VY! #AFFSuzukiCup #MYAvVIE pic.twitter.com/bToDCDvZXu
- AFF Suzuki Cup (@affsuzukicup) November 20, 2016
It was thing of beauty from the Yadanarbon FC striker, who arrowed a fierce drive past the hapless Nguyen Manh.
But Cong Vinh was to have the final say seven minutes later. The striker tucked home high into the net after another good assist, this time from substitute Nguyen Trong Huang.
Myanmar: Kyaw Zin Phyo (GK), Zaw MinTun, David Htan, Nanda Kyaw, Yan Aung Kyaw (C), Ye Ko Oo, Kaung Set Naing, Aung Thu, Win Naing Soe, Phyo Ko Ko Thein, Mg Mg Lwin
Vietnam: Tran Nguyen Manh (GK), Truong Dinh Luat, Ngo Hoang Thinh, Le Cong Vinh (C), Nguyen Van Quyet, Tran Dinh Dong, Luong Xuan Truong, Que Ngoc Hai, Vu Van Thanh, Dinh Thanh Trung, Nguyen Van Toan