Midfielder Khurshed Makh-mudov broke the deadlock for pre-tournament favourites Tajikistan after ten minutes when he nodded home a centre from left by Numondzhon Hakimov. Yusuf Rabiev doubled the lead three minutes later with a simple tap after Odil Irgashev's powerful angled cross from the left-flank rebounded off the far post.

Macau goalkeeper Hon Ming Chu, who was helpless during the first two goals, pulled off two brilliant saves inside the next seven minutes, denying Irgashev's curling freekick and Dzhomikhon Muhidinov's side-volley from seven yards.

The searing heat took toll on the both sides and Tajikistan looked more interested to reserve energy. Dzharnolidin Oev came close to widening the margin four minutes from the short whistle but his placing shot from point-blank range was parried by Chu's reflex.

The Tajiks blew away a few more chances before Ibraguim Rabimov slammed the ball into the roof of the net with a scorching right-footer when the Macau backline cleared a cross by Hakimov out of their penalty area in the 55th minute.

Irgashev, whose manoeuvres at the right flank put the rival fullback under constant threat, set up the fourth goal in the 77th minute with a long ball that came to substitute Rustam Khojaev after a clumsy clearance. Khojaev, who came on to the pitch ten minutes earlier, neatly chipped the ball over the goalie to seal the victory in front of a sparse crowd.

KYRGYZSTAN-PAKISTAN
Pakistan recorded their first victory in seven matches, thanks to Mohammed Essa's 59th minute strike.

Although Kyrgyzstan were billed favourites against Pakistan for their previous wins in the 2003 Asian Cup qualifiers, both sides fought equally in the barren first half.

Pakistan dominated after the break and Adeel, who was denied from close range by goalkeeper Volkov in the 52nd minute, set up veteran striker Essa to fire home a left-footer with a perfect chip from the left. It was Pakistan's first international goal in seven matches since their SAFF Championship group finale against Maldives.

Kyrgyzstan's month-old coach Boris Podkorytov made two quick tactical changes, bringing on strikers Verevkin and Krasnov, but even their fresh legs failed to provide Kyrgyzstan with the equaliser as Pakistan captain and goalkeeper Jaffer Khan made an acrobatic save to deny Krasnov from 30 yards.

SRI LANKA-BRUNEI
In Group B, a 72nd minute goal by substitute striker Weerarathna Jayasuriya gave Sri Lanka a solitary goal win over Brunei at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Jayasuriya leaped high in the air to nod home a right-side cross to separate the two sides after a goalless first half.

The Lankans started strongly with striker Ediribandanage Channa dodging past three defenders in the sixth minute only to see Brunei goalkeeper Mohamed Noor Azman Ilham save his shot.

Four minutes later, Brunei forward Bujang Hardi skirted two defenders and Lankan custodian Thilakratne Sugath but defender Ruwan Thilaka cleared the threat from the goalline.

Channa missed a golden chance in the first half injury time when his lob was diverted by the palm of a diving Ilham.

NEPAL-BHUTAN
Nepal reached top of Group B with Pradeep Mararajan scoring both the goals in their 2-0 win over South Asian neighbours Bhutan.

The lights went out just before first half for 15 minutes at the MA Aziz Stadium and Nepal came back strongly with Maharajn placing a corner into the net in the 52nd minute before making it 2-0 when he lobbed the rival goalkeeper from 20 yards in the 70th minute.