Incredible late drama, high-scoring matches and several upsets to boot, the opening three matchdays threw up games that will live long in the memory as the 18th edition of the continental competition got underway in style.

With a short break before the Round of 16 kicks off, the-AFC.com looks back on six of the best group stage encounters and asks you, the fans, to vote for your favourite.

Japan 4-2 Vietnam
Matchday One, Al Thumama Stadium
There was no shortage of hype surrounding this fixture as 23 years after guiding Japan to the 2000 AFC Asian Cup title, Vietnam boss Philippe Troussier faced his former side for the first time since departing the role following the 2002 FIFA World Cup. And the Frenchman’s side gave one of the tournament favourites an almighty scare in their Group D opener.

Takumi Minamino gave the Samurai Blue the lead in the 11th minute but the Southeast Asians levelled proceedings shortly after when 19-year-old Nguyen Dinh Bac’s looping header found the back of the net. And things got even better when Pham Tuan Hai was on hand to finish at the back post in the 33rd minute as Vietnam stunned the four-time champions.

However, Hajime Moriyasu’s side hit back as half-time approached, Minamino’s slick finish drawing them level and Keito Nakamura’s screamer putting them 3-2 up at the interval. The Japanese had the better of the second half but the game remained on a knife edge until substitute Ayase Ueda wrapped up a hard-fought win with a little over five minutes remaining.

Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
Matchday One, Khalifa International Stadium
A little over a year since Saudi Arabia’s stunning win over Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Green Falcons returned to Qatar as one of the AFC Asian Cup favourites. Under new head coach Roberto Mancini, they began their Group F campaign against Oman, but the early stages did not go to plan.

Branko Ivankovic’s side opened the scoring inside 15 minutes through Salaah Al Yahyaei’s penalty before Omani goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini pulled off a string of superb saves to keep the Saudis at bay and have their fans dreaming at the interval. The game continued in a similar vein after the break until, finally, Mancini’s team found a way through in the 78th minute.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s jinking run just three minutes after coming on saw him skip past the Oman defence and finish with aplomb to set up a grandstand finish. The Saudis kept pushing and, in the 96th minute, centre-back Ali Al Bulaihi broke Omani hearts by heading home following a corner from the left to secure a dramatic 2-1 win.

Iraq 2-1 Japan
Matchday Two, Education City Stadium
Japan’s win over Vietnam had taken them to 11 successive international victories in a remarkable run of form that had seen them score 49 goals in that time, including a huge 4-1 win over Germany. Going into their Matchday Two clash against Iraq, the Samurai Blue were one of the most in-form teams in world football.

However, the 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners Iraq were not overawed and Aymen Hussein headed them in front within five minutes. And that lead was doubled on the stroke of half-time when Hussein burst into the box to head in a second from close range to leave the East Asians shell-shocked at the break.

Iraq had chances to kill the game off in the second half but failed to capitalise before Wataru Endo threw Japan a lifeline three minutes into added time. But it proved too little, too late as, after a late scramble in the box ended in Ritsu Doan firing over, Iraq secured all three points to bring the Samurai Blue’s winning streak to a close.

Vietnam 0-1 Indonesia
Matchday Two, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
Vietnam and Indonesia went head-to-head on Matchday Two with both teams desperately in search of a win following their opening-day defeats, with the added incentive of regional bragging rights on the line. It was a rare meeting between Southeast Asian sides in the AFC Asian Cup, with the last one having taken place 52 years ago in 1972.

Team Garuda were on the front foot in the first half with Sandy Walsh seeing his header well saved by Filip Nguyen, before Rafael Struick was brought down in the box by Nguyen Thanh Binh with captain Asnawi Mangkualam converting the resulting spot-kick to give the Indonesians a narrow 1-0 lead at the break.

Despite Vietnam’s best efforts in the second half, they were unable to get past Indonesia’s young shot-stopper Ernando Ari as Shin Tae-yong’s team picked up a vital victory, which was their first over their ASEAN rivals since 2016. The win was enough to ultimately earn Indonesia a spot in the Round of 16 as an ever-improving side broke new ground.

Tajikistan 2-1 Lebanon
Matchday Three, Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
With Qatar having secured top spot in Group A ahead of Matchday Three, China PR, Lebanon and Tajikistan – who had all failed to score – went into the games with a chance of securing the runners-up place. A point ahead of the other two, the Chinese started their encounter with the Qataris knowing a win would see them secure automatic qualification to the last 16.

However, Lebanon and tournament debutants Tajikistan knew a win would give them a great chance of reaching the knockout rounds and, following a goalless first half, Bassel Jradi’s beautiful curler moved Lebanon up to second. However, Kassem Al Zein’s dismissal in the 56th minute gave the Tajiks real hope of a comeback and it was an opportunity they did not let go to waste.

Parvizdzhon Umarbayev’s inch-perfect free-kick drew Tajikistan level with 10 minutes remaining and, with China a goal down against Qatar, it was game on. Two minutes into added time and the turnaround was complete, Ehson Panshanbe’s cross was expertly headed home by substitute Nuriddin Khamrokulov to seal a place in the Round of 16 as Lebanon and China were eliminated.

Korea Republic 3-3 Malaysia
Matchday Three, Al Janoub Stadium
A late 1-0 loss to Bahrain on Matchday Two had eliminated Malaysia with a game to spare but the Southeast Asians went into the game with Korea Republic looking to bow out of their first continental competition since 2007 on a high. What followed was a rollercoaster of a game which their supporters will talk about for years to come.

Jeong Woo-yeong opened the scoring midway through the first half but Faisal Halim’s neat finish drew Malaysia level in the 51st minute before Arif Aiman had the Harimau Malaya in dreamland when he converted from the spot. However, Korea’s star power rose to the fore, Lee Kang-in curling in a free-kick on 82 minutes and Son Heung-min seemingly breaking Malaysian hearts with a 94th-minute penalty making it 3-2.