HONG KONG - Eastern Athletic displayed a never-say-die attitude to battle back from two-goals down and secure a 3-3 draw in a Group G game of the AFC Cup against Malaysian side Kedah at Mong Kok Stadium on Tuesday.

Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri opened the scoring midway through the first half before Mohd Sabree Mat Abu added a second on the hour mark for the visitors.

But the hosts sprung into life midway through the second-half as two goals in 10 minutes from Machado and captain Wong Chun Yue dragged them back on level terms.

Zambri’s 85th minute strike looked to have secured the three points for Kedah but Pau Ka Yiu equalised at the death.

Chances were at a premium during the opening exchanges with the most notable effort being Badrol Bakhtiar’s 15th minute free-kick that brought a full-stretch save fromYapp Hung Fai.

But it was the small band of travelling fans who were cheering in the 32nd minute when Zambri picked up the ball on the edge of the area before working some space for himself and unleashing a strong drive into the back of the net.

Profligacy was proving the hosts' undoing as wayward balls from midfield were often finding the goalkeeper or going harmlessly wide.

And they were made to pay for their wastefulness on the hour mark when Badrol’s cross across the face of goal evaded the keeper and a defender to fall kindly for Mat Abu, and the midfielder smashed the ball into the net.

But Eastern gave themselves a lifeline 10 minutes later when the Kedah defence failed to clear Yu Ho Pong’s corner and the unmarked Machado fired home from close range.

That sprung the hosts into life and, after a barrage of attacks they drew level in the 80th minute when Wong dived to head home Lau Nim Yat’s dangerous cross.

Their valiant fightback looked to have been laid to waste five minutes later when Zambri picked up the ball in acres of the space inside the box and though his initial shot was denied by Yapp, he fired home at the second attempt.

But substitute Pau Ka Yiu drilled home from a corner deep in injury time to secure a share of the spoils for the hosts.