Coach Mohammed Abdullah’s side found themselves without several players, with Kuwaiti internationals Ahmad Zanki and Sami Al Sanea suffering injuries earlier in the campaign, while Australian defender Ryan McGowan was left out for the second game in a row.

On the pitch, Kuwait SC’s first sight on goal arrived after five minutes when Youssef Nasser rifled a free-kick from 30 yards out, but it was central and goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma made a comfortable save to hold on to it.

Jableh’s first chance came midway through the first half when Syrian international Mahmoud Al Baher whipped an out-swinging cross from the corner, and Khaled Al Mbayed rose highest to head it but goalkeeper Dhari Al Otaibi was alert and made the save.

Nasser looked to try his luck from range once more at the half-hour mark and this time he came closer than ever with a combination of Alma’s outstretched fingertips and the woodwork needed to deny Kuwait SC the opener.

The second half saw plenty of action centered around the middle of the park with chances few and far between.

Scorer of Jableh’s only goal of the competition so far, Hussein Al Juwayed got on the end of Al Mbayed’s pass and attempted an effort from the edge of the area, but saw his shot rescued by Al Otaibi.

At the other end, foreign pair Taha Khenissi of Tunisia and Spain’s Agi Dambelley looked to find a way through for the Kuwaiti side but the former’s header missed the target, while the latter’s attempt from a narrow angle was foiled by the Syrian goalkeeper.

The final whistle confirmed that despite going unbeaten for the entire group stage, Kuwait SC’s five points were not enough for them to advance into the next round, while for Jableh a return of four points saw them finish third on their continental debut.