Eliminated after Monday’s defeat to group winners Ahal FC, Alexander Krestinin’s side controlled the match from virtually the opening whistle, with Abai Bokoleev scoring either side of half time after Joel Kojo had put Dordoi ahead in the 16th minute.

The Uzbek side set up a Central Asia Zonal final tie against Ahal FC of Turkmenistan, while Altyn Asyr are knocked out of the 2021 AFC Cup.

The Uzbek Pro League side went into the game needing just a draw to progress, while Turkmenistan’s champions needed a win to overtake them, yet it wasn’t to be as FC Nasaf kept the pressure up from the get-go.

With Oman’s Al Nasr SC having withdrawn from the group, the three remaining teams will vie for one spot in the West Asia Zonal semi-finals, with there also being the possibility of the best runners-up going through as the best second-placed team from the three groups.

The two sides most recent meeting was in the 2016 AFC Cup Round of 16 when the Lebanese side beat their opponents 4-0, including a Mohamadou Drame brace in the final minutes, with Al Ahed going on to lose the semi-final against eventual champions, Iraq’s Air Force Club.

Al Ahed, however, won the 2019 title and with the 2020 AFC Cup cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will enter the fray as defending champions.

One of the most successful clubs in AFC Cup history, Al Faisaly were crowned champions for two consecutive years, winning the 2005 and 2006 editions and then reached the final in 2007, losing to compatriots Shabab Al Ordon, but since then they have not been able to repeat the feat, reaching the semi-finals on two occasions, in 2013 and 2018.

The game marks a new milestone on a dream journey for the side based in northwest Jordan. Al Salt had been promoted to the top division for the first time in their history in 2017-18 and have since finished fifth then fourth in the Jordanian League, earning a ticket to the 2021 AFC Cup.

Balata Center are set to become the fifth side from Palestine to appear in the AFC Cup group stage after Taraji Wadi Al Nes in 2015, Ahli Al Khalil and Shabab Al Dhahiriya in 2016 and Hilal Alquds in 2019.

From terrific team goals to amazing acrobatics and fantastic free-kicks, the West Asian clubs have more than contributed their share of memorable AFC Cup highlights.

The-AFC.com turns the clock back to recollect five outstanding entries to the competition's collection ahead of the 2021 AFC Cup's West Zone kick-off on May 21. Don't forget to vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article!