Yangon came back from an early deficit with two quick goals, but Nguyen Cong Phuong’s 42nd minute strike helped Ho Chi Minh salvage a point.

With 2019's ASEAN Zonal champions Hanoi FC not taking part in this year's edition, the field is open for a new force from the region to rise up.

Powerhouse Ceres Negros, who went close once again to reaching the AFC Champions League through the Play-offs, may well be the favourites to take up Hanoi's crown but it will be no easy task, with the quest for glory joined by 11 other sides representing seven nations.

From AFC Cup debutants to tournament heavyweights, there’s plenty to whet the appetite, and we’ve hand-picked six players for you to look out for.

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.

In their second consecutive AFC Cup campaign, Hilal Alquds arrived to the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium hopeful of maintaining their positive record against Lebanese teams in the competition, having defeated Nejmeh SC in both legs at the group stage last season.

Becoming the seventh different Syrian team to feature in the AFC Cup, Al Wathba knew a tough challenge awaited them against Jordanian powerhouse Al Faisaly at the Amman International Stadium.

The hosts came racing out of the blocks as they looked to manifest their superiority against the debutants. Within two minutes, Polish forward Lukasz Gikiewicz was through on goal following Ehsan Haddad’s cross, but Al Wathba goalkeeper Hussain Rahal stepped out and smothered the ball.

The hosts came into their opening Group B encounter with an eye on maintaining their dominant form against Lebanese sides in the AFC Cup, having won six of their previous eight matches against opponents from Lebanon.