Despite the goalless draw, FC Khujand’s away goal in the first leg tie a week ago proved to be the difference as they progressed with a 1-1 aggregate score, joining FC Istiklol, Altyn Asyr and Dordoi FC in Group D.

FC Khujand will play their opening Group D fixture against fellow Tajik League rivals FC Istiklol on April 3.

The home side made the perfect start to proceedings in their Group H encounter when Wiljan Pluim opened the scoring in just the 12th minute with a strong finish from just inside the area.

But no sooner had the celebrations in the stands died down than the visitors drew level. Kazuo Homma got on the end of a floated ball into the box and after getting the better of his two markers, fired off a shot that looped over Rivki Mokodompit thanks to a deflection from Aaron Evans.

After both sides drew their opening games of the campaign, Kaya were in control from the start at Panaad Park and Football Stadium after a Darryl Roberts brace and a goal from Jovin Bedic gave the hosts a 3-0 lead at the interval.

The game was put beyond doubt within 10 minutes of the restart when Alfred Osei netted twice as Kaya went on to register their first victory in the competition since defeating another Singaporean side, Balestier Khalsa, in the 2016 group stage.

Ceres made the early running and Binh Duong goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong had to be alert to catch a flashing header from Maranon in the eighth minute.

The hosts responded when Victor Mansaray danced passed two challenges near the goal-line, cut inside and fired a shot into the side netting.

The hosts took a surprise lead through Reo Nakamura just inside the 15-minute mark, but Persija came out strongly after the interval and levelled through Bruno Matos midway through the second half.

Steven Paulle put Persija in front with 13 minutes to play and Matos wrapped up proceedings in the final 10 minutes as Ivan Kolev’s side claimed their first win of the campaign.

Hanoi had the better of a goalless first half, but it was the hosts who came closest when Daniel Bennett’s header came back off the woodwork.

Pape Omar Faye broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 62nd minute, but Jordan Webb equalised with 13 minutes to play as the sides shared the spoils to move on to four points apiece at the top of the table.

Looking to bounce back from last week’s 10-0 loss to Hanoi FC in their opening Group F encounter, the Cambodians made the best possible start at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium when Sos Souhana’s goal-bound effort was blocked on the goal line by the arm of Pyae Phyo Zaw, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot and showing a red card to the Yangon United defender.