Despite losing their opening two 2019 AFC Cup matches, back-to-back wins on the Continent have got Hong Kong's Kitchee SC believing again.

The latest came away in Taipei when goals from Jordi Tardes and Fernando ensured a 2-1 win over hosts Hang Yuan.

It's a result that means coach Alex Chu's side's slim chances of a place in the knockout road endures, although they do remain six points behind leaders 4.25 SC of DPR Korea.

Fernando headed in the winner in the 69th minute after Jordi Tarres had given Kitchee the lead only to see their advantage cancelled out 17 minutes into the second half by an own goal from Matthew Smith.

The win moves Alex Chu’s team into second place in Group I, six points behind leaders 4.25 SC from DPR Korea with two games remaining and the two clubs due to face off in a potentially crucial clash on Matchday Six.

The Vietnamese side went into the game three points behind Tampines but, with a better goal difference, knowing a win would take them to the group’s summit. As it turned out, a draw or defeat would have seen them exit, with Tampines ultimately eliminated on the same number of points as Hanoi.

Going into the game on eight goals, Oseni scored from close in after just 10 minutes at Hang Day Stadium to calm any nerves, before Nguyen Thanh Chung doubled their advantage shortly after the half hour as Hanoi qualified for the knockout rounds for the first time since 2014.

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 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.

Two-time AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal finalists Home United may not make it to a third consecutive Southeast Asia showdown - unless there are some results of epic proportions to turn around the double digit goal difference between themselves and current best second placed side Hanoi FC - but they did ensure a runners-up finish in Group H after goals from Adam and Abdil Qaiyyim.