The two sides came into the fixture with a point separating them at the top of the group, with Al Ahed occupying the top spot with eight points.

It was the visitors who threatened first through Issah Yakubu whose long-range effort sailed just over the crossbar eight minutes into the match.

The two sides had met on Matchday One in Oman with Malkiya emerging 2-1 winners. Al Suwaiq have since lost all their fixtures while Malkiya added four more points to sit in third place going into Matchday Five.

A quiet first-half came to life at the half-hour mark as the hosts got a golden chance to take the lead.

Hashim Isa played a superb through ball to send Hasan Helal clear on goal. The number 10 attempted to slot the ball with the outside of his right foot, but goalkeeper Anwar Al Alawi dived down and made the save.

With Oman's Al Suwaiq the only side to have officially been eliminated from the competition, we will be a step closer to finding out which four West Asian sides reach the knock-out stages by the end of the six Matchday Five fixtures across Groups A, B and C on Monday and Tuesday.

Ahead of the Matchday Five fixtures, 10 of the sides remain in the hunt for top-two finishes and the chance of reaching the competition’s knockout stages.

The six matches will take place across just three countries, with Tajikistan, India and Hong Kong each hosting a pair of games over the coming days.

Top of Group E after a draw with countrymen Minerva Punjab and a 2-0 win over Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi Club, Indian side Chennaiyin FC are set to face-off against second place side Abahani Dhaka with whom they are level on points.

A crucial game already, at the midway point of the Group Stage, Chennaiyin's star attacker Jeje Lalpekhlua highlighted the strong connection between the players, the club and the fans as a key strength for the team.

Since the departure of coach Saswadimata Dasuki from the Home United helm earlier this month, his temporary replacement Noh has endured a mixed run of results.

A fine 3-0 home win over Geylang International last Wednesday was the perfect introduction to the hotseat for the former assistant coach, but Saturday's 4-0 loss at Albirex Niigata Singapore would have returned the 38-year-old Noh to reality with a bump.

"It was obviously not a good result for our boys," the former Singapore full-back admitted to The Straits Times.