The Kuwaitis came out of the blocks racing with Abullah Mawi hitting the woodwork inside eight minutes. The midfielder rose highest to head Oday Dabbagh’s free-kick, beating the goalkeeper but was denied by the post.

Mahdi Darwish responded for the hosts, drilling an angled effort in an attempt to beat goalkeeper Khalid Al Rashidi at his near post, but the Qadsia custodian was alert and made a fine save in the 18th minute.

Jeremie Lynch had given Than Quang Ninh the lead after Andre Fagan’s early sending off for the Vietnamese visitors, only for Bali to rally in the second half with four unanswered goals to earn Emral Abus’s side a comprehensive win to open their account in Group G.

In their second consecutive AFC Cup campaign, Hilal Alquds arrived to the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium hopeful of maintaining their positive record against Lebanese teams in the competition, having defeated Nejmeh SC in both legs at the group stage last season.

Becoming the seventh different Syrian team to feature in the AFC Cup, Al Wathba knew a tough challenge awaited them against Jordanian powerhouse Al Faisaly at the Amman International Stadium.

The hosts came racing out of the blocks as they looked to manifest their superiority against the debutants. Within two minutes, Polish forward Lukasz Gikiewicz was through on goal following Ehsan Haddad’s cross, but Al Wathba goalkeeper Hussain Rahal stepped out and smothered the ball.

It was a meeting of familiar foes, having met in the 2018 edition where they drew their first encounter before Al Jaish claimed a 1-0 home win against Manama in the corresponding fixture.

With history on their side, Al Jaish were the first to make an attempt on goal through Warda Al Salama’s strike in the 10th minute but steady defending meant Manama were untroubled.

The Malaysian side, champions in 2015, saw off several big challengers to emerge as the AFC Cup Club of the Decade in Asia's most diverse club competition.

The poll results can be viewed HERE but let's take a look again at the clubs that were nominated as the AFC Cup gets set for another decade of excellence.

On the forward’s maiden AFC Cup campaign, in 2018, Yangon advanced all the way to the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals before a narrow defeat at the hands of Ceres Negros of the Philippines.

After a disappointing group stage exit last year, though, the Myanmar National League side are looking for an improved showing this time round and Maung Maung Lwin believes they have what it takes to be the best in Southeast Asia.