Despite being a game which on the surface appeared heavily one-sided, only a Fatkhullo Fatkhulloev strike ended up separating the two sides. But for a few inches, Alay striker Amredin Sharifi could well have produced a late goal to level proceedings.

Istiklol's attacking profligacy made a contest of what should have been a comfortable 90 minutes for the hosts.

In a dominant first-half display at Hisor Central Stadium, the hosts peppered the Alay goal with efforts but were unable to break the deadlock. Striker Nikolai Zenko in particular saw golden opportunities slip by in a frustrating half of football.

However, shortly after the break the game's only goal came. A foul on fellow forward Sheriddin Boboev inside the penalty area brought the chance to open the scoring from the spot, with Fatkhulloev calmly stroking the ball home.

Despite numerous chances to extend their lead in the second half, it was Alay striker Amredin Sharifi who came closest to finding the back of the net as his powerful effort rippled the side-netting. However, close as it was, he was not to deny Istiklol victory.

The result leaves Istiklol top of Group D with seven points from their opening three group stage fixtures. Alay remain bottom with no points to their name.

The two sides meet again in a fortnight's time in Osh with Istiklol looking to take a further step towards the knockout stage, and Alay to kickstart their AFC Cup campaign.

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said the attendance for the ASEAN Zone Group H match was reflective of the continued improvements undertaken to enhance the prestige and standards of the competition.

Dato’ Windsor said: “The AFC, as envisaged in our Vision and Mission, is committed to improving the quality of our competitions for our players, fans and teams. This objective is reflected in this season’s AFC Cup with a record-breaking 44 clubs competing for the highest-ever prize money in the history of the competition.

“This record demonstrates the ever-increasing interest and wide appeal of the AFC’s competitions. I congratulate Persija Jakarta and I would also like to thank all our clubs and Member Associations for their commitment to improve the AFC Cup.

“It is particularly impressive this milestone was achieved in the group stages of the AFC Cup and I am confident, as we work closely with our Member Associations, we will continue to witness even more thrilling matches, which will engage and excite more passionate fans as the competition progresses into the knockout stages.”

The Indonesian side was powered on by a raucous crowd of over 60,000 – the largest ever crowd for an AFC Cup match – and used the energy of the crowd to blitz the visitors in the opening half.

The Group B encounter was only a handful of  international competitive club games to be played on Iraqi soil in more than 20 years after the FIFA Council lifted a ban on the country on March 16, 2018 at its meeting in Bogota, Colombia.

"The world saw that Iraq was at the level and that it had the capacity to host a championship," fan Ali Essam said.

From the early morning, cars lined up at checkpoints set up at the entrances to Karbala, a city about 160 kilometres south of Baghdad.

Persija went into the Group H game at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium level on points with their opponents and having lost 3-0 in the first meeting in Johor Baru. However, a stunning hat-trick within the game's opening 19 minutes from Simic ensured the match was effectively over before the midway point of the first half.

It was hosts Ahal who almost took the lead early on at Ashgabat Stadium, with Akmamedov Begench's curled free-kick rattling the crossbar from 20-yards. However, it was to prove the hosts only effort of the opening half.

On the stroke of half-time, Altyn Asyr striker Murat Yakshiyev almost took advantage of space in the box to head home a pinpoint Altymyrat Annadurdyyev cross. His diving effort, though, narrowly missed the target.

With the game entering stoppage time, Ahal midfielder Hoshgeldy Hojovov squandered perhaps the best chance of the night, prodding wide a cross from six yards to ensure the deadlock would remain unbroken.

The result leaves Altyn Asyr on five points from their opening three group stage games, with Ahal just a point behind in third position. The sides will meet again in Balkanabat on April 25 in their next AFC Cup fixture.