The Ashgabat club, who have claimed their domestic league title four times in a row, broke new ground in the AFC Cup this year by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time after Mihail Titow’s 97th-minute strike defeated Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol 3-2 and saw Altyn Asyr advance as the Central Asia Zonal champions.

The two sides have appeared in every edition of the AFC Cup since 2015, but lock horns for the first time in their history.

Altyn Asyr exited the competition at the preliminary round in their maiden campaign and have improved with every passing season ever since, while Bengaluru have established themselves as perennial title challengers, reaching the final in 2016 and going within one game of it last year.

The Ashgabat-based club were crowned Central Asia Zonal champions after Mihail Titow’s 97th-minute goal in May ousted Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol to book a date with India’s JSW Bengaluru, who Istiklol eliminated in last year’s competition en route to their second appearance in the final.

With Central Asian sides having been represented in the AFC Cup in every edition but one since the inaugural tournament in 2004, the-AFC.com looks back at how its sides have performed over the years as Altyn Asyr look to continue the region’s recent upward trajectory.

The Indian side have developed into one of the tournament’s strongest teams in recent years, reaching the final in 2016 and then the Inter-Zone final last year, but fell just short on both occasions after defeats to Iraq’s Air Force Club and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol respectively. 

But hopes are again high in the current campaign after Bengaluru were crowned South Zone champions after a dramatic final round of group stage fixtures in May, and Sree Kanteerava Stadium will be expectant when the side take to the pitch against Central Zone champions Altyn Asyr.

Bengaluru, who face Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr in the 2018 AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-finals, have signed Kean Lewis, Rino Anto, Sairuat Kima, Gursimrat Gill, Soram Poirei, Chencho Gyeltshen and Xisco Hernandez for the 2018-19 season.

The first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final on August 22 will be Bengaluru's first competitive match and Cuadrat is determined to prepare his squad for what promises to be a challenging assignment.

Jordan’s biggest rivalry today is the famous Amman derby between Al Faisaly and Al Wehdat, but long before Al Wehdat had become a dominant force in Jordanian football, there was the duopoly of Al Faisaly and Al Ahli. Al Jazeera were the first side to break that duopoly when they lifted their maiden Jordan League title in 1952, just five years into their existence.

Back-to-back league triumphs followed in 1955 and 1956, as Al Jazeera replaced Al Faisaly as Al Ahli’s main rivals and the country’s second most successful club with the league now expanding to six teams.

Seven remaining teams vie for the 2018 AFC Cup title as the action returns after the summer break, and from DPR Korea to Iraq to the Philippines and Turkmenistan, players have put their talent on display as they aim for personal and team glory. Here are four names who have shone brightly this term and will hope to continue impressing as their sides pursue continental glory.