Al Ahed got their first sight of goal inside eight minutes when Hussein Dakik’s long throw-in was poorly cleared by the Omani defence to fall for Hussein Zein, whose volley from the edge of the box was saved by goalkeeper Ammar Al Rusheidi.

Bashar Al Saadi nearly cost Al Suwaiq dearly when his back-pass was intercepted by Kdouh who rounded the goalkeeper and applied the finish. Al Saadi was, however, quick enough to make amends and clear the ball off the goal line.

Khalil Al Alawi tried to take advantage of a loose ball in Al Ahed’s half. His shot from distance was deflected into the path of Idris Al Saadi. Goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil came off his line and smothered the ball before Al Saadi could shoot.

The hosts had to wait 53 minutes for their first shot on target as Brazilian defender Tiago Lopes tried his luck from a long-range free-kick, but Khalil was present to make the save.

Al Alawi followed suit with another effort from distance after Al Saadi set him up down the left, and he struck low, forcing Khalil into a diving save.

It was Al Ahed who finally opened the scoring in the 62nd minute through Kdouh. The striker latched onto a Zein through pass and finished with the outside of his right boot to register his fourth goal of the campaign, having bagged a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

Al Suwaiq’s only source of danger remained shooting from outside the box, and Al Alawi came close to making one count when he struck from a free-kick, but Khalil was again live to the threat and parried it away.

The visitors came within inches of doubling their lead 10 minutes from time when Dakik’s long pass from a set-piece was headed across the mouth of goal by Nour Mansour for substitute Samer Ayass, whose volley from six yards out grazed the top of the crossbar.

The result confirms Al Suwaiq’s elimination from the competition as they remain without a point after four matches, while Al Ahed reached eight points with Qadsia SC to come in two weeks’ time.