Al Arabi stunned Maziya early, taking the lead in the seventh minute with Youssef Majed nodding home Hamza Khaba’s corner kick.

Khaba was again in the thick of things a minute later when he set up the second goal with a headed pass to Youssef Majed, who nutmegged Mario Zebic before slotting past keeper Nemanja Lemajic.

The Kuwaiti side almost extended their lead in the 25th minute when Youssef Majed’s stinging shot from distance produced a fine stop from Lemajic, before Ahmed Aiham cleared the danger following Majed’s follow-up.

Maziya finally got into the action with Wilkson pulling his effort wide in the 31st minute before seeing his close-range effort parried away by Al Arabi custodian Sulaiman Abdulghafoor seven minutes later.

Al Arabi were denied a third goal in the 41st minute after Anayo Iwuala struck the left post off a set-piece situation, before Lemajic sprang into action to deny Khaba twice and Majed in the closing stages of the half.

Lemajic had to pull off a fine stop to deny Majed from point-blank range in the 49th minute before the Maziya keeper foiled Iwuala’s attempt on the turn from inside the box in the 55th and Khaba’s glancing header a minute later.

Al Arabi had a chance at goal in the 61st minute but Lemajic pulled off another splendid save to deny Ali Porusaniei’s curling effort from just inside the box but it didn't matter as they took the points.