But while the three points gained by Khujand put them level with Istiklol on the Group D table, Altyn Asyr’s later victory over Dordoi FC means Khujand are now unable to top the group due to their inferior head-to-head records against both Istiklol and Altyn Asyr.

Nguyen Tien Linh scored 10 minutes from time to ensure the Vietnamese side will take a slender lead into the second leg in Indonesia next Wednesday.

The win was achieved despite Nguyen Thanh Son’s side being a player down for much of the second half after Nguyen Trun Tin was sent off.

Risto Vidakovic’s side took the lead through Bienvenido Marańon just before the hour mark, but the visitors returned fire through Senegalese forward Pape Omar Faye to earn a share of the spoils and a potentially vital away goal at Panaad Stadium.

The two sides will meet again at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium next Tuesday, with the winners to advance to the ASEAN Zonal final.

Both sides looked to improve on their most recent AFC Cup campaigns. Al Ahed had been eliminated at the same stage last year whereas Al Wehdat suffered the same fate in 2017 and missed out on the 2018 AFC Cup.

Al Wehdat came racing out of the blocks, and within three minutes, they had their first sight of goal.

Al Jazeera were hopeful of taking home a result that could help them reach the West Zonal final for the second time running, but they faced the challenge of an Al Jaish side that had not lost in their last eight AFC Cup games.

The Jordanians started brightly and were in complete control for the first 25 minutes, threatening first through Abdullah Al Attar’s header which narrowly missed the target, then through Omar Al Manasrah’s long range strike.

Kitchee wasted no time in getting settled in as they asserted the early pressure against a Wofoo Tai Po side who won their previous encounter 4-2 on Matchday One.

Kitchee's aggression was rewarded handsomely when Ju Yingzhi was fouled just outside the area and Fernando cooly slotted home the free-kick in the sixth minute, sending his shot into the bottom left corner.

Mohammad Nabib Ziban, Kervens Belfort and Sunday Chizoba were among the five different players to find the back of the net for the rampant Abahani Limited, who took their tally to 10 points from five matches in the competition.

The result means Abahani Limited will only need to equal Chennaiyin’s result in the group’s final Matchday – to be staged next Wednesday – to move into the knockout stage as group winners, while Manang Marshyangdi’s elimination is now confirmed.