Both of Hanoi’s strikes came in a stirring second-half display as the hard-fought success saw the Vietnamese side progress to the next phase of the competition for the first time since 2014 when, under the AFC Cup’s previous format, they reached the quarter-finals.

By way of contrast to Hanoi’s delight, the result represents the second time in the last three editions of the AFC Cup that Ceres have failed to safely navigate this particular stage of the competition.

After being reduced to 10 men early in the second half following Nguyen Trung Tin's dismissal, Nguyen Tien Linh netted the only goal of the game in the first leg in Thu Dau Mot City to ensure Binh Duong begin the return meeting in the driving seat.

But there remains all to play for ahead of the decisive second leg as both teams aim to reach the ASEAN Zonal final for the first time in their history.

The Lebanese champions had earned a hard-fought victory in Amman a week earlier thanks to Mohammad Kdouh’s strike, and a draw was all they needed on Monday to reach the Zonal Final for the first time in their history.

After a cagey start, Ahmad Zreik thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts halfway through the opening 45 minutes when he cut inside on his left foot and unleashed a powerful drive from 30 yards out that beat goalkeeper Abdallah Al Fakhouri. Luck was on the side of Al Wehdat goalkeeper as the ball bounced off the post and into his arms.

The V.League team will host Ceres Negros in the second leg of the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals on Tuesday holding the slimmest of advantages after Pape Omar Faye's away goal in the 1-1 draw in the Philippines in last week’s first leg.

With 24 goals already to their name, Hanoi are the competition’s top scorers, although to progress to the Zonal final for the first time they must overcome a Ceres team who have appeared in each of the past two ASEAN finals and have won all three of their away games in this year’s AFC Cup.

Binh Duong travel to Indonesia with a slim advantage after Nguyen Tien Linh’s header with 10 minutes to play in the first leg secured a 1-0 victory for the 10-man Vietnamese side.

The win made it five victories in a row for Binh Duong and, unbeaten on the road so far in the competition, should they avoid defeat at Pakansari Stadium they will secure a place in the ASEAN Zonal final.

The win was Binh Duong’s fifth in a row in the Continental competition while the result also marked Makassar’s first defeat in a game that they will have been bitterly disappointed to have got nothing from.