The two-legged match-up will be the third Inter-Zone Final since the competition changed to its regional format at the beginning of 2017, with the Central Asian champions coming out on top in each of the last two years. 

As the champions of the East Asia and ASEAN Zones get set to face off for a place in the final, the-AFC.com looks back at the past two editions, where hard-fought contests have seen plenty of drama.

With two games still to play, Vietnamese heavyweights Hanoi secured an unassailable lead at the top of the standings thanks to Nguyen Than Chung’s goal in a narrow 1-0 victory away at Song Lam Nghe An.

Kim struck in the 49th and 83rd minutes as the DPR Korea side won the second leg 2-0 at the Kim II Sung Stadium in Pyongyang to see off Bangladesh side Abahani Dhaka 5-4 on aggregate.

Kim had a profound impact on the match, having come on as a substitute for An Il-bom in the 41st minute, as he scored his seventh and eighth goals of this season's AFC Cup to steer 4.25 into their second successive Inter-Zone final.

Elsewhere, Hanoi FC moved ever closer to the V.League 1 title and Chiangrai United moved to the summit of the Thai League. For that, and much more, here’s the-AFC.com’s round-up of the latest rounds of fixtures in Southeast Asia.

With a 3-2 aggregate lead under their belts from the first match of the two-legged tie, Hanoi navigated a first-ever trip to Ashgabat’s Kopetdag Stadium to emerge with a 5-4 aggregate win and set up a meeting with DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC.

A brace from captain Nguyen Van Quyet proved crucial for Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side, who advanced despite two successful penalty kicks from Altyn Asyr skipper Serdar Geldiyev.

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors gained a little breathing room at the top of K League 1 in Korea Republic, Beijing FC reduced the lead of front-runners Guangzhou Evergrande, and there was plenty of domestic football action in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.

Join the-AFC.com as we cast an eye over the domestic action throughout Central Asia.