A Sebastian Giovinco free-kick and a last-second strike from substitute Hattan Bahebri sealed a 2-1 win for Al Hilal on Monday as Pakhtakor were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of keeper Eldorbek Suyonov for handling the ball outside of his area.

But with two victories from their first two games, Pakhtakor could still pip Al Hilal to the top of the group with a two-goal margin win, and if Shahr Khodro manage a win against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the other Thursday match, the Uzbek League champions could have a foot and a half in the Round of 16 come Matchday Five.

The former German international winger joined Al Ahli from Red Star Belgrade in January, but the Saudi Pro League’s COVID-19 enforced break followed by a muscular injury meant he had not played competitively for six months before putting on a Man of The Match performance, including a late winner against Al Shorta on Monday.

And with qualification to the Round of 16 guaranteed, Al Ahli now eye the top spot in Group A in hope it would help them avoid reigning champions Al Hilal who eliminated them at the same stage in 2019 and now hold the top spot in Group B after three matches.

The Dubai based side had managed to scrape a 1-0 win against their Islamic Republic of Iran opponents, thanks to a magnificent solo effort from youngster Harib Abdallah Suhail to give Shabab Al Ahli their first three points in the 2020 edition.

A second consecutive win for the 2015 AFC Champions League runners-up would put them at the heart of competition for a Round-of-16 spot as the two sides ahead of them in the group table, Al Hilal with nine points and Pakhtakor with six, lock horns in the late Thursday fixture.

In a new weekly poll, we celebrate the Asian stars who shine beyond their respective homelands and invite fans from throughout the continent to help us choose the AFC International Player of the Week.

In the opening edition of the series, we’ve shortlisted eight players from seven different countries following an action-packed week of football in Europe and beyond, but who deserves to win the maiden award?

Here are our contenders for September 8 to 14.

A brace from Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah either side of the halftime break secured the points at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium even as Sepahan rallied late on to try and salvage something from the game but to no avail.

Al Nassr top Group D with seven points from three games, having extended their unbeaten run in the 2020 edition to three games, but the task is far from over for the Riyadh based side at the halfway point of the group stage, according to manager Vitoria.

A late goal from Shojae Khalilzadeh goal gave the Islamic Republic of Iran side their first win of the competition and moved them to two points behind Al Taawoun, who remained on top despite the defeat.

Resan said Persepolis' runaway victory in the Iran Pro League fuelled their desire to get the win.

The Qatar champions registered their second win in the group with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup top scorer opening the scoring before Rami Rezaeian added the second with Igor Coronado pulling a goal back for Sharjah from the penalty spot.

While Ali stressed that getting the three points was important, he said Al Duhail's superior performance meant they should have scored more goals at the Education City Stadium.