Sharjah 24: The AFC Asian Cup roared into life on Sunday, with Group C's opening clash between the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. Despite being heavy favorites, the UAE faced a spirited challenge from their determined opponents.

The Emiratis struck first in the 34th minute, Sultan Adil coolly converting a penalty to send the home crowd into a frenzy. However, Hong Kong refused to be daunted. Just after the restart, Chan Siu Kwan pounced on a loose ball to equalise, injecting a jolt of excitement into the match.

Undeterred, the UAE pushed back with renewed vigour. Zayed Al Zaabi restored their lead with a precise strike, and late on, Yahya Al-Ghassani sealed the victory with another penalty, sending the UAE off to a winning start in their quest for Asian glory.