Three-time AFC Cup winners Kuwait SC returned to the competition after a three-year enforced hiatus.
The two sides got off to a cautious start as Mohamad Omar hit on the half-volley from the edge of the box but could not strike the ball cleanly enough to trouble Kuwait SC’s Hameed Youssuf.
The hosts came within inches of taking the lead in the dying seconds of the first half, and it was Al Jaish’s captain Ahmed Kallassi who posed the biggest threat to his own net.
The defender breathed a sigh of relief as his headed clearance struck the upright, and goalkeeper Mohanad Al Khaiari dealt with Talal Al Fadhel’s effort from the rebound.
With a dearth of clear-cut chances on either side, a physical 45 minutes were brought to an end in a stalemate.
The visitors from Aleppo gained more confidence as play resumed after the half-time break. Within four minutes, they had their clearest sight of goal.
Mohamad Al Omari crossed from the free-kick and his namesake Mohamad Al Muhtadi rose highest but could not direct his header goalwards.
Yaqoub Husain produced magic inside Al Ittihad’s box, controlling Hamid Mido’s diagonal ball with his chest, before cleverly evading his marker and taking a shot from close range. The forward’s effort from a tight angle narrowly missed the target in the 68th minute.
Midfielder Abdullah Al Buraiki was taken off with 15 minutes to go but could have left on a high. He tested Al Khaiari from long range, but the Al Ittihad goalkeeper was alert to the threat.
The home goalkeeper was finally beaten with four minutes to go, but Omar Mashhadani was left in agony as he watched his thunderous drive from 25 yards out cannon off the crossbar.
Kuwait SC travel to Amman to face Al Jazeera on Matchday Two. Meanwhile, Al Ittihad play hosts to Bahrain’s Al Najma at their adopted home in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time.
