The victory handed the Southeast Asians an ideal start to the competition against a side they had, for long periods, struggled to break down at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The result sees Indra Sjafri’s charges go top of the Group A table ahead of the United Arab Emirates who beat Qatar 2-1 earlier in the day.

The talented 18-year-old produced a deft assist and a superb goal to hand his side the perfect start to their Group A campaign with games against Chinese Taipei and host nation Indonesia still to come for head coach Ludovic Batelli’s charges.

After a bright start in sultry conditions, Qatar fashioned the first chance of the game, midfielder Abdollah Ali fizzing a shot narrowly wide of the target with four minutes played.

The East Asians, who were crowned champions in 2016 after beating Saudi Arabia on penalties in Bahrain, begin the defence of their continental crown against regional rivals DPR Korea on Friday at the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor.

With Thailand and Iraq also competing for honours in Group B, and four places at next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup on offer to the competition’s semi-finalists, Kageyama was understandably quick to strike a cautious note ahead of his side’s opener.

The Continental championship has ended in group stage disappointment for the Young Socceroos in the previous two editions, and Milicic, 44, said his young charges will need to begin positively if they are to succeed in Indonesia.

"We're fully aware that every game will be difficult, and we really have to focus on ourselves and be at our best to get out of this group," the former striker said ahead of the fixture at Bekasi's Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium.

"All three are strong nations. I have a history with Korea Republic and Vietnam as head coach of the Under-23s in China PR in January and they were very strong teams.

"Jordan I also know well from my time with the Socceroos when we lost there in Amman, 0-2, so all three teams are extremely strong opponents."