Zhang Xizhe had come close to giving Beijing the lead in the 10th minute when he shot wide of Filip Nguyen’s goal and it was Cong An Ha Noi who went in front five minutes later through striker Vitao.

The Brazilian had flashed an earlier opportunity over the bar but this time he made no mistake, stroking a right-foot effort from the 18 yard line into the top corner of the goal.

Nguyen Dinh Bac and Le Van Do both fired attempts wide of the target as CAHN sought to double their lead while Vitao stabbed a shot from 12 yards out the wrong side of goalkeeper Nureli Abbas’ left post.

Jason Quang-Vinh Pendant was millimetres away from adding to the Vietnamese side’s lead in the 27th minute when he was played into the penalty area by Leo Artur but he flashed his first-time shot across a diving Abbas and beyond the far post.

Zhang Yuan’s shot from distance was deflected over the bar as Beijing responded and Yang Liyu pulled his effort wide while Leo Artur was denied by Abbas with seven minutes left in the half.

Leo Artur squandered another opportunity a little over a minute after the restart and the Vietnamese outfit were to rue that miss as Chi struck from 25 yards out, the midfielder’s shot bouncing over Nguyen’s hands as he dived to his left.

Nguyen Dinh Bac hit the base of Abbas’ left post while the Beijing goalkeeper blocked another effort by the Vietnam forward moments later as the visitors pushed to reclaim the lead.

Beijing made their visitors pay again with 25 minutes left, Zhang Yuan pouncing to roll the ball home after intercepting Filip Nguyen’s under-hit attempt to pass out from the back.

Leo Artur thumped the post as the Brazilian’s profligacy continued but, in the 73rd minute, the Vietnamese were back level when substitute Alves beat Abbas after the Beijing defence dithered to secure a point despite a frantic finish from both sides.