Strikers Kim Do-hoon and Kim Dae-ui were both on target as South Korea opened their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Vietnam on Thursday.

 Missing their European-based players, hosts South Korea began slowly and took until the 34th minute to take the lead in their Group E opener through defender Lee Ki-hyung.

 But it was a different story after the break as the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists added four more goals at Incheon World Cup Stadium through Cho Jae-jin, the two Kims and Woo Sung-yong.

 Earlier, at the same venue, Fawzi Doorbeen and Ahmed Mukhaini both scored twice as Oman crushed Nepal 7-0 to go top of the group on goal difference.

 South Korea play Oman and Vietnam face Nepal on Saturday in the second round of Group E matches.

 In Doha, Qatar coach Philippe Troussier was left lamenting a costly lapse in concentration after his side gifted Palestine a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Group B on Wednesday.

 Mohammed Aziz snatched a late equaliser from close range to give the Palestinians a point from an ill-tempered match.

 Qatar finished the match with 10 men after Abdullah Kouni was sent off for violent conduct in the 78th minute.

 Frenchman Troussier, who took Japan to the last 16 of the World Cup last year, has yet to win in three qualifying matches and Qatar are second with two points, five adrift of group leaders Kuwait.

 The top two from the seven qualifying groups advance to the 2004 Asian Cup in China. The hosts, along with holders Japan, qualify automatically for the 16-team tournament.

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