Bahrain's Al Riffa shocked Qatar's Al Rayyan with a 2-0 win at a chilly Al Rayyan Stadium on Tuesday to maintain a 100 per cent record in Group E of the AFC Cup.

Striker Ismael Abdulatif scored in each half to hand Al Rayyan a first defeat in the continental competition and pull Al Riffa three points clear at the top of the table at the midway point of the group stage.

At the King Abdullah International Stadium, Jordan's Al Wehdat revived their qualification hopes as a 2-0 win over Al Nahda of Oman secured their first points of the campaign. Despite Rafat Ali's dismissal in first-half stoppage time, Ahmad Abdelhalim's penalty five minutes after half time opened the scoring. And after Al Nahda defender Baba Issaka was sent off, Mahmoud Shelbaieh sealed the win with 14 minutes remaining.

In Group C, Kuwait's Kazma maintained their perfect start with a 2-1 win against Nasaf in Uzbekistan. Ilkhom Shomurodov opened the scoring for the home side but Alexander Andic's free-kick levelled the contest just after the hour mark before Yusuf Al Suleiman secured all three points with 12 minutes remaining.

After ending Nasaf's 100 per cent record, Kazma are now eight points clear of Al Ahed and Al Jaish after the pair played out a 1-1 draw at Sports City Stadium in Beirut and already in a strong position to reach the knockout stage.

In Group G, last year's semi-finalists South China finally got their campaign off and running with a thrilling 6-3 comeback win over Indonesia's Persiwa Wamena in Hong Kong. Brazilian strike duo Tales Schutz and Leonardo da Silva each scored twice after Pieter Rumaropen had opened the scoring for the visitors after just six minutes.

Kwok Kin Pong also netted as South China stormed into a 5-1 lead just after half-time and after Albertho Mambrasar and Lewis Weeks netted for Persiwa, Lee Wai Lim sealed the win in stoppage time. With Thailand's Muang Thong United holding off resilient Maldives side VB to win 3-1 in Bangkok, South China and Muang Thong sit just two points behind leaders VB with the group wide open.

At Thunderdome Stadium, Soumahoro Yaya struck for the home side after 33 minutes and Teeratep Winothai secured the win with nine minutes remaining after Ashfaq Dhagey equalised for VB three minutes before half-time.

Finally in Group A, Syria League champions Al Karamah eased to a 2-0 win over Yemen's Ahli Sana'a to open up a two-point lead at the top of group after Oman's Saham shared a scoreless draw with Jordan'sShabab Al Ordon. In Homs, Kuwaiti striker Fahad Al Rashidi opened the scoring just before the hour mark before substitute Alaa Al Shbli sealed the win with 15 minutes remaining.