Crowned FA Women’s Super League champions and League Cup winners this season, the Australia and Korea Republic stars were unable to add the continental title to their domestic honours, with Chelsea blown away in the early stages by the rampant Spaniards.

While Group E hosts Dordoi are making their first appearance in this year’s competition, Ahal already have a 3-1 win over Tajikistan's FC Ravshan under their belt, with another victory to confirm the Turkmen side as group winners even before Thursday’s final Matchday.

Uzbekistan’s first AFC Cup entrant in nearly a decade, Nasaf breezed past FC Alay of Kyrgyz Republic in their opening clash with four goals in 22 second-half minutes, issuing a warning to clubs in Central Asia and beyond about their prospects in this year’s competition.

Khujand, on other hand, battled to a 2-2 draw against Turkmenistan champions Altyn Asyr FC in their clash, meaning a defeat on Monday will officially extinguish their knockout stage hopes.

The Turkmenistan side had two players sent off in Friday’s 2-2 draw against Khujand, relying on a first half brace from star striker Altymyrat Annadurdyyev to escape without defeat in their first competitive match of 2021.

Under the circumstances, Hojageldiyev was satisfied to emerge from that match with a point, but a similar result on Monday could see the Yokary Liga champions eliminated from the knockout stage contention before Thursday’s final group stage fixture against FC Nasaf.

Fourth in Group G of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023, UAE face four matches in 13 days to round off the second round of qualification, beginning with Malaysia on June 3.

They then take on Thailand on June 7, Indonesia four days later and group leaders Vietnam on June 15.

Tan has named a 25-member training squad with Belgian-based Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, Johor Darul Ta'zim's Arif Aiman Hanapi and naturalised players Liridon Krasniqi and Guilherme de Paula all new inclusions.

Malaysia are on nine points from five matches in Group G of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023. Vietnam are on top with 11 points, Thailand third (8), followed by the UAE (6) and Indonesia, who have yet to register a point after five matches.

The 32-year-old former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper revealed he was quitting the international scene due to family commitments and the challenges created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.