Having exited to Ceres at the same stage last year after the Filipino team recorded a 3-2 aggregate win, Home United were determined to go one better in 2018 and avenge a loss which had seen them throw away a first-leg advantage.

Locked at 1-1 from the first leg last week, second half goals from Shakir Hamzah and Song Ui-young sealed the 3-1 aggregate win for the Singaporean side, earning them a spot in the Inter-Zone Semi-finals where they will face DPR Korea powerhouse 4.25 SC.

It was the visitors, who needed to win to defend their ASEAN Zonal title, who started the brighter of the two teams with Carli de Murga heading just wide from Stephan Schrock’s free-kick in the fourth minute.

Schrock attempted to turn provider again just over five minutes later with a cute outside-of-the-foot cross for Patrick Reichelt, but the winger saw his effort well saved by Home United custodian Rudy Khairullah.

Ceres’ Spanish defender Súper came agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the first half, but saw his diving header smash off the crossbar as the visitors pushed hard to find the opening goal they needed.

There was another smash late in the half when Reichelt and Rudy collided when challenging for the ball in the box, a collision that saw the Ceres winger stretchered from the field and play stopped for a lengthy period.

Shaikh Salman said: “On behalf of the AFC football family, I would like to congratulate Home United from Singapore for displaying immense quality and resilience to be crowned champions of the ASEAN Zone.

“Central Champions Altyn Asyr from Turkmenistan, JSW Bengaluru FC from India in the South Zone and DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC who won the East Zone, must also be praised for their consistency throughout the campaign.

“The 2018 season of the AFC Cup has already witnessed two new attendance records in the Group Stage, which is a testament to the improved format, one which provides our passionate fans with more excitement and captivating action.

“I am confident that the next phase will engage with more fans and produce more memorable moments as we look to crown the Inter-Zone and West Zone winners as well as the ultimate champions in October.”

Seven remaining teams vie for the 2018 AFC Cup title as the action returns after the summer break, and from DPR Korea to Iraq to the Philippines and Turkmenistan, players have put their talent on display as they aim for personal and team glory. Here are four names who have shone brightly this term and will hope to continue impressing as their sides pursue continental glory.

Bengaluru, who face Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr in the 2018 AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-finals, have signed Kean Lewis, Rino Anto, Sairuat Kima, Gursimrat Gill, Soram Poirei, Chencho Gyeltshen and Xisco Hernandez for the 2018-19 season.

The first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final on August 22 will be Bengaluru's first competitive match and Cuadrat is determined to prepare his squad for what promises to be a challenging assignment.

Jordan’s biggest rivalry today is the famous Amman derby between Al Faisaly and Al Wehdat, but long before Al Wehdat had become a dominant force in Jordanian football, there was the duopoly of Al Faisaly and Al Ahli. Al Jazeera were the first side to break that duopoly when they lifted their maiden Jordan League title in 1952, just five years into their existence.

Back-to-back league triumphs followed in 1955 and 1956, as Al Jazeera replaced Al Faisaly as Al Ahli’s main rivals and the country’s second most successful club with the league now expanding to six teams.

From debutants to former champions, 24 Asian nations are gearing for the AFC Asian Cup, and many of them are keeping an eye on how their stars are performing across Asia's two club competitions. Here are six players who have driven their teams into the final stages of the AFC Cup and dream of doing the same with their countries in January.