Hosts Saudi Arabia will face Palestine in the group’s other match later on Saturday.
Macau 0-1 Afghanistan
Afghanistan dominated the opening half but found a Macau side defending deep and in numbers hard to break down.
The Central Asians went down to 10 men in the 40th minute when Enayatullah Kohi was shown a second yellow card for a hefty challenge on Gui Soi Hou.Despite playing with a man less, Afghanistan continued to attack and two minutes from the break, Ali Reza Rahim’s free-kick set up Esmatullah Hadafmand for a powerful low drive that required Macau custodian Lam Chak Fung to produce a save.
Afghanistan remained the dominant side in the second half and eight minutes in, Farzad Tajik should have done better with his effort, which sailed over the bar.
Tajik redeemed himself in the 54th minute, laying the ball for Hadafmand to chip over an advancing Lam to give Afghanistan the lead.
Macau tried to find a way back but never looked like they were going to trouble Afghanistan as the Central Asian side comfortably saw off the remainder of the match.
Afghanistan meet Australia on Monday while Macau will aim to bounce back against Palestine.
