Xiao Zhi was presented with a commemorative ball after the match from the AFC.

The 2019 edition of the tournament is the first to produce a century of goals, surpassing the previous record haul of 96, set at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China.

While Xiao's goal brought up a historic milestone, it was also crucial to keeping China PR's UAE 2019 campaign alive.

With Marcello Lippi's men facing a 1-0 deficit, and potential elimination from the competition, the Guangzhou R&F forward scored the equaliser in the 67th minute, just three minutes after being brought into the game as a substitute.

Guangzhou R&F striker Xiao levelled the scores in thr 67th minute after Supachai Chaided had given Thailand the lead just after the half hour mark and Gao Lin secured the win for China with a penalty 20 minutes from time.

Xiao’s goal – the 100th of the tournament so far – was key for a China side that dominated the second half but were unable to find a way past Siwarak Tedsungnoen in the Thai goal until the arrival of the veteran forward, who finally ended Thailand’s resistence.

In the end it was a deserved win for a Chinese side that welcomed back Wu Lei to the starting line-up after missing the 2-0 loss against Korea Republic with a shoulder injury while Thailand called up Supachai for the injured Adisak Kraisorn.

Up next for Vietnam will be the winners of the Japan-Saudi Arabia last 16 tie, with the quarter-final to be also played at Al Maktoum Stadium.

Both teams started positively as they went in search of an early goal with the first shot on target for Jordan and it came in the 17th minute when Baha' Abdelrahman forced Vietnam goalkeeper Dang Van Lam into action.

Three minutes later, Jordan came close again when Mousa Mohammad Suleiman lured three defenders out of position before his back-heel pass found the unmarked Feras Zeyad Shilbaya, whose cross to Yaseen Mahmoud Bakheet saw his effort going wide.

The experienced 29-year-old suffered the initial damage during his country’s Matchday One defeat of the Philippines, a game which saw him taken off shortly before the hour mark.

Ki, who plays his club football in England with Newcastle United, then subsequently failed to feature for the Taeguk Warriors against both Kyrgyz Republic and China PR, although he had returned to full training as recently as Friday.

Korea Republic are set to play Bahrain in a Round of 16 encounter in Dubai on Tuesday.

After having cruised through Group F with three wins, Japan will face their toughest test so far in the form of Saudi Arabia but Moriyasu believes his team are ready.

“After our three games in the group stage, we are now well prepared to face our opponents (Saudi Arabia) and the players will show their best on the field,” said Moriyasu, who took charge of Japan after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“We have used 22 players during the group stage and this has brought us to the knockout round. And we’re looking at the quarter-finals now.”

Leckie, a key member of the Australia team that won the AFC Asian Cup on home soil in 2015, has yet to feature for Arnold’s team at the tournament after joining up with the squad carrying a hamstring injury.

But the Socceroos’ head coach confirmed the 27-year-old would be available for selection in a squad that also welcomes back Josh Risdon from injury and Trent Sainsbury, who was suspended for the win over Syria.

Hosts UAE are hoping to better their 1996 achievement - when they finished runners-up on home soil - by winning the Continental showpiece but Kyrgyz Republic are from satisfied despite having already achieved their initial target of making the knockout stage.

UAE head coach Alberto Zaccheroni, however, believes the hunger and focus he has seen in his squad since they finished top of Group A will result in success against Kyrgyz Republic, who advanced from Group C as one of the four best third-placed teams.