Both teams opted for a conservative approach, and as a result chances were few and far between in the first half.

Qadsia relied on the physical presence of Yousef Naser up front and repeatedly sent long balls to their frontman.

Ahmad Al Dhefiri came close with a spectacular volleyed effort from long distance after Naser set him up with a cushioned header, but Al Dhefiri’s attempt missed the target.

Malkiya had come away from Oman with the three points on Matchday One, defeating Al Suwaiq 2-1. Meanwhile, Al Ahed’s first match saw them share the spoils with Qadsia SC in Beirut.

Bulgarian forward Martin Toshev worked hard throughout but could not find his scoring boots, missing chance after chance for Al Ahed.

Looking to bounce back from last week’s 10-0 loss to Hanoi FC in their opening Group F encounter, the Cambodians made the best possible start at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium when Sos Souhana’s goal-bound effort was blocked on the goal line by the arm of Pyae Phyo Zaw, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot and showing a red card to the Yangon United defender.

Hanoi had the better of a goalless first half, but it was the hosts who came closest when Daniel Bennett’s header came back off the woodwork.

Pape Omar Faye broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 62nd minute, but Jordan Webb equalised with 13 minutes to play as the sides shared the spoils to move on to four points apiece at the top of the table.

Ceres made the early running and Binh Duong goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong had to be alert to catch a flashing header from Maranon in the eighth minute.

The hosts responded when Victor Mansaray danced passed two challenges near the goal-line, cut inside and fired a shot into the side netting.

The hosts took a surprise lead through Reo Nakamura just inside the 15-minute mark, but Persija came out strongly after the interval and levelled through Bruno Matos midway through the second half.

Steven Paulle put Persija in front with 13 minutes to play and Matos wrapped up proceedings in the final 10 minutes as Ivan Kolev’s side claimed their first win of the campaign.

The Syrians started with a strong attacking intent and had their first real chance within six minutes when Mohamad Muhtadi controlled a cross inside the box and laid it for Mohamad Omar whose left-footed effort from close range was collected by the goalkeeper following a deflection.

Senegalese forward Mouhammadou Drame responded with an attempt from inside the box that was easily caught by the Syrian goalkeeper.