Unheralded Minerva came from nowhere to be crowned I-League champions for the first time in their history in 2017-18 after only gaining promotion to the top flight two seasons earlier.

That success granted them entry into the 2019 AFC Champions League’s qualifying rounds and, although they fell to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Saipa, the Punjab side were then placed into the AFC Cup’s South Zone group.

A Philippines international, Kaya skipper Bedic scored the club's first goal in this year's Continental campaign in a 1–1 draw against Lao Toyota, before then scoring the second goal in a stunning 5–0 win over defending ASEAN Zonal champions Home United last month.

A late equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at PSM Makassar a fortnight ago, and - with an intriguing return meeting in prospect - the 28-year-old forward spoke exclusively to the-AFC.com in the build-up to the clash at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium.

It's fair to say that Kitchee's home opener in this year's AFC Cup did not go at all to plan.

Two goals down to Hong Kong Premier League title rivals Tai Po after 50 minutes of play at Mong Kok Stadium, the Blues rallied to level the scores only to concede twice more in the game's dying minutes.

And things do not get any easier from there with a tough test away against 2018 East Asia Zonal champions 4.25 SC.

After the first set of games, Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol lead the way in Group D, Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka do likewise in Group E and both 4.25 SC of DPR Korea and Hong Kong’s Wofoo Tai Po are on maximum points in Group I.

Malkiya came into the match on the back of three unbeaten games, while Qadsia were eyeing their first-ever AFC Cup triumph against Bahraini opponents.

Al Jaish were unbeaten this campaign going into the match while Al Wehdat had not conceded on home soil in the 2019 AFC Cup.

Saeed Al Murjan set up Bahaa Faisal with a through pass and the Jordanian international striker advanced on goal, but fired high from a narrow angle in what was Al Wehdat’s first real chance 16 minutes into the match.

Al Suwaiq came into the match on the back of a nine-match losing run in the AFC Cup that stretches back to May 2012 when they defeated Jordan’s Al Faisaly 3-2. Al Ahed were, meanwhile, unbeaten in the 2019 edition, having collected five points from their first three matches.