The 2019 AFC Cup champions were on the verge of bowing out at the group stage but Nour Mansour's late winner sealed them top spot in Group A.

Top spot meant Al Ahed will face Bahrain's Muharraq Club in the West Zonal semi-finals while Jordan's Al Salt will play Kuwait SC.

The big win secured Al Salt place in the West Zonal semi-finals in their maiden participation in the competition, with Cameroonian forward Ronald Ngah powering them past Balata Center at King Abdullah II Stadium.

The victory meant Al Salt finished second behind Muharraq Club on Bahrain on the head-to-head record with both teams on six points. Al Salt advanced as the best second-placed team from the three West groups and will face Kuwait SC in the West Zonal semi-finals. Muharraq Club will play Lebanon's Al Ahed.

Kuwait SC secured their place in the West Zonal semi-finals as Group C winners, thanks to Tunisian forward Ahmed Akaichi's 47th minute effort.

The result meant that Kuwait SC topped the group with seven points, one Al Faisaly. They will play Jordan's Al Salt in the West Zonal last four stage while Bahrain's Muharraq Club will face 2019 champions Al Ahed of Lebanon.

Muharraq came from a goal down to defeat Al Ansar 3-1 at the King Abdullah International Stadium thanks to goals from Sanad Saleh, Ismail Abdullatif and Tiago Real.

Muharraq, the 2008 AFC Cup winners, advanced to the West Zonal semi-finals after finishing on six points, the same with Al Salt but ahead on head-to-head after having beaten the Jordanian side 1-0 in their earlier encounter.

Tishreen finished third in the group with the Syrian side recording their first win in the competition thanks to a brace from Thaer Krouma and further goals from Bassel Moustafa, Kamel Koaeh and Mohammad Al Marmour.

Star-studded hosts Korea Republic will undoubtedly begin as favourites, although Lebanon held the Taeguk Warriors earlier in the campaign while an ever-improving Turkmenistan already have points on the board, too. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are still aiming to get off the mark.

With plenty to play for over what promises to be an action-packed two weeks, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on the story so far, the teams and players involved, and much more.

With the action coming thick and fast over a two-week period during which teams will look to secure a place in the next round of qualifying, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on some of the form players who will be representing their nations.