Issah Yakubu stole the headlines when he headed home with just over 15 minutes to play, but this was a triumph built first and foremost by solidarity throughout. The Beirut side conceded just three goals in a campaign in which they were almost impenetrable at the back.

Led by established Lebanese internationals such as captain Haytham Faour and goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil, as well as skillful forward players Mohamed Haider and Ahmed Zreik, there was no shortage of talent in Bassem Marmar's all-conquering side.

As Al Ahed prepare to kick off their 2021 AFC Cup group stage on May 24, the-AFC.com looks back at a success that will live long in the memory.

Settled by first half goals from Shohmalik Komilov and Husain Norchaev, the result confirmed Nasaf as Group F winners, with the 2011 champions taking a maximum nine points and three clean sheets from their week in Dushanbe.

With Oman’s Al Nasr SC having withdrawn from the group, the three remaining teams will vie for one spot in the West Asia Zonal semi-finals, with there also being the possibility of the best runners-up going through as the best second-placed team from the three groups.

The two sides most recent meeting was in the 2016 AFC Cup Round of 16 when the Lebanese side beat their opponents 4-0, including a Mohamadou Drame brace in the final minutes, with Al Ahed going on to lose the semi-final against eventual champions, Iraq’s Air Force Club.

Al Ahed, however, won the 2019 title and with the 2020 AFC Cup cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will enter the fray as defending champions.

The game marks a new milestone on a dream journey for the side based in northwest Jordan. Al Salt had been promoted to the top division for the first time in their history in 2017-18 and have since finished fifth then fourth in the Jordanian League, earning a ticket to the 2021 AFC Cup.

Balata Center are set to become the fifth side from Palestine to appear in the AFC Cup group stage after Taraji Wadi Al Nes in 2015, Ahli Al Khalil and Shabab Al Dhahiriya in 2016 and Hilal Alquds in 2019.

One of the most successful clubs in AFC Cup history, Al Faisaly were crowned champions for two consecutive years, winning the 2005 and 2006 editions and then reached the final in 2007, losing to compatriots Shabab Al Ordon, but since then they have not been able to repeat the feat, reaching the semi-finals on two occasions, in 2013 and 2018.

Tishreen qualified to the AFC Cup after winning the Syrian League title for the second year in a row, and if they are to make an impression in their inaugural campaign, head coach Maher Bahri will rely on the goal scoring ability of striker Bassil Moustafa, an AFC Cup veteran with numerous appearances in the competition for Syrian sides El Jaish and Al Wahda.

“We know that the match is very difficult because Kuwait SC are a big team who have big continental and local achievements and titles while are playing in the competition for the first time. We have a group of excellent players and it will be an important match in order to prove that we can compete for the top spot in the group," said Bahri.