The Chinese side were two ahead at the break thanks to a Guo Hui penalty and a strike by Wang Chengqing.

Yang Hao headed in a third after 78 minutes before Beijing's day ended on a sour note with the dismissal of substitute Wang Ke at the death.

Beijing are level on 12 points with Kashima at the top of pool but the Japanese side remain favourites to advance to the quarter-finals thanks to their superior goal difference.

The hosts were rarely in trouble from the outset and they broke the deadlock against their Vietnamese opponents after 15 minutes.

Yan Xiangchuang was barged over in the box by Tran Thanh Tung and the referee signalled a penalty, which Guo tucked away beyond visiting goalkeeper Bui Quang Huy.

Beijing kept up the pressure and got a second goal in the 32nd minute. Lu Jiang crossed from the right and Wang reacted first to poke the ball home.

And the result was confirmed when a third goal arrived 12 minutes from time.

Wang Dong crossed from the left and Yang glanced a header over Huy and into the net.

Wang Ke was dismissed a minute from time following a poor high tackle on Tran Duc Duong that gave the referee no option but to produce the red card.