Abahani showed tremendous resilience in coming from a goal down to defeat the previously unbeaten Chennaiyin on Wednesday, having also seen the Indian club hauling themselves back into the match when 2-1 down.

The two teams played out two contrasting halves, the second of which saw three goals packed in a space of 10 minutes. A late goal by Mamunul Islam clinched a hard-fought game in favour of the hosts.

The Indian side were forced to play with 10 men in the second half after losing Prateek Joshi to a red card just before the half-time whistle.

Manang Marshyangdi began the first half well as they starved Minerva of possession but the Indian side looked effective whenever they got a chance with the ball.

Samuel was particularly impressive in the wings early on. His first attempt was thwarted by a diving tackle from Bishal Rai in the wings but in the eighth minute, he produced an impressive long range effort that came off the bar.

The Kyrgyz Republic champions were staring down the barrel of elimination at 1-0 down with just over half an hour remaining at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, but the pendulum swung on Vahyt Orazsahedov's 57th minute equaliser, before Mirlan Murzaev sealed all three points with a thunderous strike 13 minutes from time.

Now three points behind Istiklol, Dordoi's win keeps them in contention, and - while they still require further positive results from both themselves and others to advance - head coach Krestinin said the Bishkek-based side would fight all the way.

The visitors spent large periods of the Group D encounter at Ashgabat's Kopetdag Stadium on the back foot, but it was a single defensive lapse that proved decisive, as they were caught cold by a long ball to allow Murat Yakshiyev to score the game's only goal in the 32nd minute.

While fellow Tajik side FC Istiklol's later defeat to Kyrgyz Republic's Dordoi FC keeps Khujand alive in Group D, their position is precarious following Wednesday's loss - one Levchenko vowed to learn from.

With the clock ticking down and the Vietnamese side needing three points to progress as the best-placed runners-up, the forward won possession back on the right touchline and then, from fully 35 yards, floated the ball over Muller’s head and into the back of the net to spark joyous celebrations among the visitors at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium.

The game had been heading for a draw up until that moment and a point for Becamex would have seen them exit, with Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Group F taking the highest-ranked runners-up spot. But Luiz’s goal ensured that 13 points from his side’s Group G campaign were enough to edge them above Tampines on goal difference.

The Group F tie ended with Yangon winning 2-0.

This was the first time three female referees officiated in the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) club competitions, marking a new milestone in Asian refereeing.