On their way to the final, Rasovic’s side overcame the challenge of Ajman in the Round of 16, Al Jazira in the quarter-finals before edging 1992 President Cup champions Baniyas in the semi-final. All those ties were won after extra time with a one-goal difference, with the exception of the game against Ajman, which ended 9-8 after in a lengthy penalty shootout.

Shaikh Salman also thanked the work of the AFC’s Member Associations and the contribution of players and officials during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed so many lives across the globe.

The new dates were announced in consultation with the Japan Government and the Organising Committee of the Tokyo Olympics.

The 2020 Olympics had been scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9 this year but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alexander Geynrikh was the player who dazzled in their Germany 2006 campaign, striking four times as his side stormed all the way through to the Asian play-off - only to lose out, heartbreakingly, to Bahrain on away goals. Then national legend Maksim Shatskikh rose to the occasion on the road to South Africa 2010, racking up eight goals to fire his side to the final qualifying round.

The Central Asians also came close in the Brazil 2014 preliminaries being edged out by Korea Republic on goal difference and, on that occasion, captain Server Djeparov led by example with outstanding performances that included four goals.

With footballers and fans around the world currently staying home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, we've gone back through the archives to select some of the best interviews from seasons gone by.

A FIFA World Cup winner, a record breaker from Hong Kong and IR Iran's Number 1 all feature, as does plenty of fun involving players from Japan's national team and India's Bengaluru FC.

Since the inauguration of the AFC Champions League in 2002-03, Saudi teams have appeared in the final on seven occasions. Along the way, some of the kingdom’s players have created an iconic legacy in the competition.

Following on from last week's acrobatic AFC Champions League goals, next up in the-AFC.com's '5 of the Best' series we recall five solo goals where players have taken matters into their own hands and produced the goods in emphatic style.