Having topped the group after defeating Al Ansar FC 1-0 on Matchday One, Kuwait SC came into the game hopeful of hitting six points to establish a comfortable early lead in the race for the knockout stage, but facing them were an Al Wathba side who had held Jordanian powerhouse Al Faisaly to a stalemate in their AFC Cup debut two weeks ago.

In action over the two days are 12 West Asian teams representing seven countries, with matches from Groups A and B taking place on Monday, while Group C fixtures will be played on Tuesday.

Tuesday brings four fixtures in Groups F and G, while the spotlight will be on Group H a day later, after which a clear picture will begin to emerge of the early frontrunners in this year's Continental competition.

A new-look Makassar side without the likes of Marc Klok and Eero Markkanen – both key in helping the team reach the 2019 ASEAN Zonal semi-finals – lost 2-1 against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers on Matchday One two weeks ago.

But with a number of the players making their maiden AFC Cup appearances for Makassar, Ferdinand remains optimistic about his side’s prospects in the 2020 campaign.

In the club’s first continental appearance since the 2011 AFC President’s Cup, Neftchi secured victory on the day thanks to Oleksandr Ihnatenko’s goal just after half time, putting the 2019 Kyrgyzstan Cup winners within 90 minutes of the group stage.

Both sides had to battle the elements at Jalal-Abad’s Kurmanbek Stadium, where the pitch had been buried under snow on the eve of the match, but Zakirov was delighted that his charges had been able achieve a positive result.

A second-half penalty converted by Abdulaziz Al Muqbali gave Oman side Dhofar the three points at the Salalah Stadium.

The AFC Cup defending champions found themselves behind after only 15 minutes as Fayeq Mahamid gave the visitors the lead but Tarek El Ali and Ahmed Zreik scored in the second half to give Al Ahed their first win of the year.