The Bukhara striker broke the deadlock for the visitors at the My Dinh Stadium when he capitalised on a defensive error five minutes before half-time. Igor Sergeev and substitute Sardor Rashidov then struck after the interval to secure the victory for the 2011 Asian Cup semi-finalists which kept them in second place in Group E with seven points.

Handed his first start for his country at the age of 27 by coach Mirdjalal Kasimov, Shodiev made his international debut along with right-back Davron Khashimov as the Uzbeks looked to build on last month’s 3-1 win over Vietnam in Tashkent.

The visitors exerted much of the early pressure with Sergeev testing goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong with an early shot from the left while Fozil Musaev had an attempt blocked by a defender.

Vietnam were on the back foot for much of the opening half but an error by Anzur Ismailov on the half-hour mark presented an opening to Pham Thanh Luong only for Odil Ahmedov to snuff out the danger as the Vietnamese player bore down on goalkeeper Eldorbek Suyunov.

Shodiev had an effort disallowed for offside in the 34th minute but he made the breakthrough six minutes later, tucking the ball into the net after goalkeeper Truong had failed to control a backpass from a defender.

Uzbekistan then extended their advantage in the opening minute of the second half as Vitaliy Denisov’s cross from the left was headed home by Sergeev.

The home side attempted to find a route back into the game but they offered little real threat with Nguyen Trong Hoang send a long-distance shot wide while Le Tan Tai had an opportunity blocked by the Uzbek defence.

Rashidov came on for Sanjar Tursunov and he nearly got a third for Uzbekistan in the 76thminute when he took the ball past two defenders before being denied by Truong.