Led by Chairperson His Excellency (HE) Du Zhaocai, the committee members recognised the need to continuously enhance the foundations for AFC MAs through the new criteria and also paid tribute to the Continent’s match officials for their role in the successful and safe staging of the AFC Champions League (West) Group Stage.

Group C is among the most intriguing in the competition, with Iraq leading the way from Bahrain and five-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers the Islamic Republic of Iran sitting in third, with a crucial game in hand over the teams above them.

Here, the-AFC.com looks at the situation in the group as the five teams prepare to lock horns and pick out a key player to watch from each of the teams.

With the group having passed the halfway point, Saudi Arabia hold the advantage at the top going into the three-week run-in on home soil, Uzbekistan and Singapore remain within touching distance of the hosts while Palestine are bottom and practically out of contention.

Osama Omari's first half strike gave Al Wahda the lead at Sheikh Ali Bin Mohammed Stadium before veteran Saudi striker Nasser Al Shamrani equalised for Al Hidd after the break, leaving the group finely poised after Al Wahda and Al Ahed of Lebanon had played to a 0-0 draw in their opening tie.

Dejan Damjanovic may have left the K League behind and made Hong Kong his new home, but one thing remains true: the Montenegrin still knows how to score goals.

Mooy, who plays for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, and Celtic star Rogic have not been selected for the games to be played in Kuwait next month, when the Socceroos complete their commitments in Group B.

A minor ankle injury has sidelined Rogic while Mooy’s requirement to complete two weeks’ quarantine upon his return to China PR saw the former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder request not to be included.

Juarez's charges found themselves behind after 18 minutes after Abdulhamid Abuhabib put Al Ama’ari Center in the lead against the run of play.

However, a brace from Ahmed Akaichi and further goals from Sami Al Sanea and Yousef Naser late in the second half steered the three-time AFC Cup champions to their first win of the competition, having drawn 3-3 with Syria's Tishreen on Matchday One.