The team looked all set to register their first victory thanks to Samuel Lalmuanpuia's 62nd minute goal at the Indira Gandhi Stadium but were denied by a 90th minute goal by Mohd. Rafi.

It was a result which kept Minerva Punjab in third place, and with no chance of overtaking Group E leaders Abahani Limited Dhaka who are on 10 points.

Minerva were under immense pressure after having failed to secure a single win in their first four Group E encounters and looked on course for their first win when Chennaiyin equalised.

With this, Chennaiyin maintained their top position on the points table while Minerva took yet another point home.

Mohammad Nabib Ziban, Kervens Belfort and Sunday Chizoba were among the five different players to find the back of the net for the rampant Abahani Limited, who took their tally to 10 points from five matches in the competition.

The result means Abahani Limited will only need to equal Chennaiyin’s result in the group’s final Matchday – to be staged next Wednesday – to move into the knockout stage as group winners, while Manang Marshyangdi’s elimination is now confirmed.

Goals from 2019 AFC Cup leading scorer Bienvenido Marañón of Ceres and Hanoi FC's Pape Omar Faye meant the spoils were shared in the ASEAN Zonal Semi-final first leg tie at Panaad Stadium.

And, while Porteria did praise the effort from his team, Ceres would have been disappointed not to have capitalised on more of their chances, with the away goal meaning the Vietnamese club have a slim advantage.

But while the three points gained by Khujand put them level with Istiklol on the Group D table, Altyn Asyr’s later victory over Dordoi FC means Khujand are now unable to top the group due to their inferior head-to-head records against both Istiklol and Altyn Asyr.

The 2018 runners-up took the lead through a stunning Altymyrat Annadurdyyev volley before an own goal from Dordoi’s Azamat Baimatov and a late strike from Murat Yakshiyev sealed three valuable points.

Another win against Tajik champions FC Istiklol next Wednesday will confirm Altyn Asyr’s place in the knockout stage, while Dordoi can no longer progress from the group stage.

Kitchee wasted no time in getting settled in as they asserted the early pressure against a Wofoo Tai Po side who won their previous encounter 4-2 on Matchday One.

Kitchee's aggression was rewarded handsomely when Ju Yingzhi was fouled just outside the area and Fernando cooly slotted home the free-kick in the sixth minute, sending his shot into the bottom left corner.