With the anticipation building up, the stage is set for the 42 Member Associations who will be competing from October 23 to 31, 2021 for the 15 positions up for grabs to join host Uzbekistan ahead of the fifth edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in 2022, which will be staged in the Central Zone for the first time in Asian football history.

The win means BG Pathum United’s hopes of advancing to the Round of 16 remain very much alive with defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC to come on Matchday Six.

Kaya of the Philippines will feel hard done by the result as they matched the Thais for long periods and deserved, at the very least, a share of the points.

Ulsan turned on the power in the second half with the triumph taking their winning streak to five in the 2021 edition and record-extending 14th consecutive AFC Champions League victory and the defending champions only have to avoid defeat against BG Pathum United on Sunday to confirm top spot in the group. Defeat against the Thais will also likely not cost them as Ulsan should advance as one of the three best runners-up.

Vietnam’s Viettel, however, will be proud of their performance after giving Ulsan a stiff fight at the Pathum Thani Stadium.

The two sides had met on Matchday One, with each picking up a point after they drew 1-1. This win represented the Filipino side’s first ever in the competition, and the first ever for any team from the Philippines.

Kitchee sit on 10 points from their opening five games and an additional three points from the meeting with the J-League side would likely guarantee at least one of the three runners-up spots available in the Round of 16 following the results in other groups on Wednesday.

The Chinese Super League club sent an inexperienced squad to Thailand for the competition due to strict quarantining laws in China and Liu’s youthful group have yet to pick up a point or score a goal in their five games so far.

The K League champions beat Thailand’s Chiangrai United 3-1 to win Group H with a game to spare, with all three of their goals coming in a highly efficient first-half display.

Chiangrai managed more possession and more shots on goal in the first half – and racked up 18 attempts for the match as a whole – but it was Jeonbuk who were better in the final third, with Modou Barrow, Hong Jeong-ho and Park Jin-seong all scoring in style.