Both teams went into the Matchday Two encounter looking to pick up their maiden win in the AFC Cup and, indeed, aiming to score their first goal in the competition.

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, it was Chennaiyin’s overseas players who proved the heroes as quick-fire goals from Australian Chris Herd and Brazilian Mailson Veriato early in the second half secured all three points.

Sunday Chizoba served notice of the home side’s intent when he fired a shot just wide in the first minute. Just a minute later Mahmoud Al Amnah responded with a powerful strike from distance that Shahidul Alam did well to touch over.

A touch of quality almost put Minerva in front when Al Amnah’s deep cross from the right was brilliantly controlled by Samuel Lalmuanpuia before he curled just wide of the top-right corner.

The finalists from 2015 and 2017 were coming off a confidence-boosting 3-0 win over Tajik rivals Khujand on Matchday One and almost made the perfect start when Alisher Dzhalilov’s effort cannoned back off the crossbar in just the third minute.

Turkmen international Altymyrat Annadurdyyev had the home side’s first real shot of the game in the 21st minute, but his effort was easily saved by Nikola Stosic.

Annadurdyyev had an even better chance just three minutes later after being played in behind the Istiklol defence by Resul Hojayev, but Stosic again did well to deny the attacker.

Khujand and Dordoi both failed to win their respective opening games in Group D two weeks ago, which only increased the pressure heading into the Matchday Two tie.

A vocal crowd backing the hosts saw Ergashev unleash a curling shot just over the bar in the opening minutes after dancing his way around two Dordoi defenders.

The three points ensured that the Singapore side maintained a three-point lead over second-placed Hanoi FC.

There was a dream start for the home side when they took the lead after three minutes. Zehrudin Mehmedovic played a perfectly weight pass into the path of Irwan Shah, who prodded the ball past Sou Yaty.

Having lost to the Myanmar champions in their previous Group F encounter two weeks ago, the Vietnamese side knew they had to collect all three points to keep alive their hopes of progressing from the group stage, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2014.

With that in mind the visitors made the perfect start when they took the lead in just the third minute when star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai squared the ball across the box, allowing Pape Omar Faye a simple tap in at the back post.

It’s been a week of celebrations in the Lao capital for Lao New Year and the home side was aiming to keep the celebrations going as they looked to end their 12-match winless run in the AFC Cup, a streak that dates back to 2016.

The celebrations continued early when the home side took a surprise lead, with Rafael heading home from Saison Khounsamnan’s corner in the 11th minute to give hope to Jun Fukuda and his team.