With Team Melli Omid facing a 1-0 deficit at the interval, Estili introduced Ghayedi in place of Ali Shojaei, with the shift forcing Allahyar Sayyadmanesh into a positional change after he had led the line in the opening 45 minutes.

The reshuffle paid dividends, with Iran manufacturing five efforts on goal in quick succession after the break; pressure that ultimately produced Reza Dehgani’s equalising goal in the 58th minute.

With the match seemingly headed for a goalless draw, 58th-minute substitute Lee scored to snatch the win in the third and final minute of stoppage time, sending Kim’s charges to the top of the Group C table at the end of Matchday One.

Uzbekistan went ahead through an Islomjon Kobilov penalty kick just before half-time, but Iran drew level through Reza Dehghani’s 58th minute goal to claim a share of the spoils at Tinsulanon Stadium.

The Koreans looked destined to be held by a determined Chinese outfit, but a goal from substitute Lee Dong-jun in the third minute of stoppage time ensured Kim Hak-bum’s side finished the opening Matchday of Group C top of the table.

Alaa Aldin Dali struck deep into stoppage time to earn his side a last gasp share of the spoils after the Syrians had been 2-0 down within 22 minutes of the encounter at the Thammasat Stadium.

Dali’s strike, coupled with a first-half effort from Abdul Rahman Barakat, capped a superb comeback after an error from goalkeeper William Ghannam and Yosief Mohammad’s own goal had threatened to cost Syria dear in their Continental opener.

The West Asian nation will have to wait until the third group match against the UAE to enjoy the services of their talismanic winger Al Taamari, who currently plies his trade at Cypriot side APOEL.

To reach Tokyo 2020, Skorza’s men have to better their performances at the two previous appearances in the competition, which both ended at the quarter-finals. In 2013 they were eliminated by Jordan and three years later, it was Iraq that knocked them out at the same stage.

The first obstacle on their way are 2018 runners-up Vietnam. The two sides had faced-off in the group stage of the 2016 edition, with the UAE emerging 3-2 winners to top the group, while Vietnam finished bottom at the time.