YORK City winger Maziar Kouhyar earned his eighth international cap in Afghanistan's 2-0 friendly defeat against Vietnam.

Kouhyar played all 90 minutes for Afghanistan at the Hoa Lu Sports Centre in Ho Chi Minh City but the visitors ultimately fell short in their bid for a shock win over a nation ranked 54 places higher than them in the FIFA world rankings.

The York forward started on the right wing of a 4-2-3-1 and saw a 19th-minute near-post shot pushed out for a corner.

Earlier, the two sides had exchanged chances, with Farshad Noor making a crucial close-range clearance for Afghanistan before his side went up the other end and saw Milad Intezar's shot from 20 yards out well saved.

Kouhyar was involved again when he teed up Omran Haydary in the box but a determined block denied Afghanistan an opener.

Vietnam took the lead a minute later as Pham Tuan Hai nodded in after the hosts won the initial header from a corner.

Haydary had another effort stopped from a Kouhyar pass before the break, which Afghanistan headed into 1-0 behind.

In the second half, Afghanistan appeared best placed to score next, coming close through Moshtaq Ahmadi and Haydary.

With only two minutes left though, Vietnam put the victory beyond doubt as Hai turned past a defender before calmly finishing for his brace.

Kouhyar almost got on the scoresheet in added time, striking the post with a left-footed curler.

Afghanistan: Azizi, Najem (Nazary 77'), Mukhmmad (Saighani 77'), Intezar (Haidary 46'), Alikhil (Shayesteh 57'), Husin, Noor (C), Popalzay (Musawi 60'), Haydary, Kouhyar, Ahmadi (Azadzoy 60').