Three-time AFC Cup champions Kuwait SC had the better of both halves at the Bahrain National Stadium but missed a host of chances as the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate until Al Khamees stunned the hosts with a fabulous curling effort from 20 yards at the death.

The win moved Kuwait SC level on four points with Al Najma at the midway point of the group stage, with both sides three points behind table-toppers Al Jazeera of Jordan, who defeated Syria's Al Ittihad 4-0 earlier on Tuesday.

The Jordanian side had defeated Oman’s Al Suwaiq with the same scoreline in the group stage last year.

There was an early scare for the hosts when Sekou Sylla found Soe Min Naing in space but the striker headed straight at Nguyen Van Cong.

Hanoi hit back and almost took the lead after a breakaway attack ended with Pape Omar Faye’s low shot from 14 yards being saved by Kyaw Zin Htet.

There was an uneventful opening to the game, with both sides struggling to make anything happen in the final third of the pitch.

But there was finally a bit of quality when Naga World opened the scoring with an excellent counter attack in the 24th minute. Kipson Atuheire released Esoh Omogba down the right wing and the Nigerian’s low cross was slammed high into the net by Kouch Dani.

The defending ASEAN Zonal champions were at risk of falling further behind the top two teams in Group H if they didn’t collect maximum points at home on Matchday Three.

In a first half in which neither team created a significant number of chances, it took until midway through the half for the first clear opportunity to present and the home side would’ve been disappointed not to have taken the lead.

With both sides undefeated heading into the Group H encounter, and with only the top of the pool guaranteed progression to the next round, both teams knew winning all three points was crucial to their Continental ambitions.

In a cagey opening to the game, it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game when Jordan Mintah was played in behind the PSM Makassar defence, but his attempt the curl the ball past Rivki Mokodompit was thwarted by the custodian.

The Englishman took over Chennaiyin in mid-2017 and led the side to the Indian Super League (ISL) title in his first season at the helm, although the club were unable to maintain the same level this campaign and finished bottom of the table.

Having qualified for the Continental competition – via the play-offs – thanks to their ISL success, their opening game now carries extra intrigue as, for the first time in the AFC Cup’s history, the ISL winners and the I-League champions will square off.