Filip Nguyen kept out Alex Souza’s 14th minute effort, the Cong An Ha Noi goalkeeper using his right foot to prevent the Brazilian forward’s low shot from spearing into the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.

Kyoto goalkeeper Halls had to be at his best to deny the home side two minutes later, throwing himself to his right to deny Brayan Perea after he had been played in on goal by Leo Artur’s perfectly weighted pass from deep.

With Halls scrambling to recover, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh’s follow-up was inches wide of the post to the frustration of the home supporters.

In the 22nd minute the visiting goalkeeper was called into action once more, this time diving to his left to save from Leo Artur when the playmaker tried his luck.

Filip Nguyen was almost as busy at the opposite end of the field, racing off his line to smother at the feet of Souza when the Brazilian had cleverly nodded the ball past the home defence to bear down on goal.

Cong An Ha Noi’s frustration extended into the final minute of the half when Leo Artur was again in position to give his side the lead, heading the ball beyond Kyo Sato before shooting towards goal. But again Halls pulled off the save.

Leo Artur continued to drive the Vietnamese side on, shooting across the face of the Kyoto goal in the 52nd minute having earlier seen an on-target attempt blocked by the visitors’ defence.

Kyoto’s Yoon dragged his 69th minute attempt from outside the penalty area wide of Filip Nguyen’s right post while Weverton rose highest to meet Rafael Elias’ corner from the right for the visitors in the 86th minute, only to head wastefully over the bar.