Defending champions Kuwait SC were dumped out of the AFC Cup by a penalty shootout loss to Al Ittihad on Wednesday.

The Syrians won 5-4 on penalties after the game at Kuwait SC had ended 1-1 after extra time. Brazilian striker Rodrigo Vergilio had put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute when he drove a powerful shot into the back of the net but Al Ittihad levelled with 17 minutes remaining through Moutaz Kailoni.

The game went to extra time where neither side could find a second goal before Jarah Al Ateeqi hit his spot kick against the post in the shootout to hand victory to Al Ittihad and secure their place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Elsewhere, Hamad Al Enezi scored a brace as Al Qadsia battled for a 2-1 win over India's Churchill Brothers at Mohamed Al Hamed Stadium. Al Enezi opened the scoring after 33 minutes when he headed home a cross from Bader Al Mutawa before he doubled the advantage for the hosts after 43 minutes with another header. Churchill Brothers halved the deficit after 61 minutes through skipper Odafa Okolie but Al Qadsia held firm.

Thai delight
In east Asia, Sarayoot Chakamdee scored a hat-trick as Thai Port eased to a 4-1 win over Indonesians Sriwijaya at Jaka Baring Stadium. Richard Obiora opened the scoring in the seventh minute for Sriwijaya but the visitors levelled in the 36th minute when Sarayoot fired in a rebound after his initial penalty had been saved by goalkeeper Ferry Rotinsulu.

Sompong Soleb took advantage of a defensive error to put the Thais ahead in first-half stoppage time and Sarayoot added a third for his side four minutes into the second half when he broke clear of the defence before slotting home. Sarayoot completed his hat-trick in the 78th to round off the emphatic win for Thai Port that sends them through to the last eight.

Doan Hung Son's extra-time strike secured a 4-3 win for Da Nang over fellow Vietnamese side Binh Duong at Chi Long Stadium. The hosts took the lead after half an hour when Sebastian Gaston Merlo headed home from a free-kick before Nguyen Anh Duc equalised when he lobbed the ball over the keeper in the 65th minute.

Binh Duong then went ahead with seven minutes remaining when Phan Duy Lam volleyed in but Binh Duong forced extra time when they levelled through South African Philani. Merlo completed is brace in the 96th minute but Huynh Kesley Alves brought Binh Duong level again in the 108th minute. The match seemed destined for penalties only for Hung Son to fire home a rebound and secure the win for Da Nang.