The six matches will take place across just three countries, with Tajikistan, India and Hong Kong each hosting a pair of games over the coming days.
Group D
Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol will look to maintain their lead at the top of Group D when they welcome Dordoi FC of Kyrgyz Republic to Dushanbe on Wednesday.
Istiklol won their opening game against Tajik rivals FC Khujand before playing out a 1-1 draw away at Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr on Matchday Two and they sit a point clear at the top of the standings.
Dordoi, who are without the suspended Azamat Baimatov, are propping up the table following their 3-1 defeat to Khujand when they last visited Tajikistan a fortnight ago.
A day earlier, Khujand host last year’s runners-up Altyn Asyr and will open up a four-point lead over the Turkmen side if they make it back-to-back wins at home.
Altyn Asyr have yet to hit the heights of 2018, but have come from a goal down in both of their games to claim 1-1 draws and a first victory would leave them in a good position at the midway point of the group stage.
FC Khujand (TJK) vs Altyn Asyr (TKM)
Venue: 20 Years of Independence of Tajikistan Stadium, Khujand City
Kick-off: April 30, 16:00 UTC+5
FC Istiklol (TJK) vs Dordoi FC (KGZ)
Venue: Republican Central Stadium, Dushanbe
Kick-off: May 1, 19:00 UTC+5
Group E
The top two face off in Group E on Tuesday when India’s Chennaiyin FC take on Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka in Ahmedabad.
Chennaiyin secured their first three points of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi Club two weeks ago following goals from Chris Herd and Mailson Alves.
The win moved them level on four points with Abahani, who played out a 2-2 draw with another Indian side, Minerva Punjab, in the Bangladeshi capital.
On Wednesday, unbeaten Minerva will be looking to turn draws into wins after successive stalemates when they go up against the group’s bottom side Manang Marshyangdi.
The Nepalese side have suffered back-to-back losses and prop up the standings, and defeat would all but end their chances of progression after just three games.
Chennaiyin FC (IND) vs Abahani Limited Dhaka (BAN)
Venue: The Arena Stadium, Ahmedabad
Kick-off: April 30, 19:30 UTC+5:30
Minerva Punjab (IND) vs Manang Marshyangdi Club (NEP)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Kick-off: May 1, 18:30, UTC+5:30
Group I
Wofoo Tai Po will be aiming for their third straight victory in Group I when they welcome fellow 100 percenters 4.25 SC of DPR Korea to Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Tai Po have been an exciting addition to the tournament, with the debutants first defeating city rivals Kitchee SC 4-2 and then claiming another 4-2 victory against Chinese Taipei’s Hang Yuan FC two weeks ago .
Yet to concede, Pyongyang team 4.25 won their competition opener 3-0 against Hang Yuan and followed up the victory with a 2-0 win over Kitchee on Matchday Two.
The bottom two sides will face off a day later, with both Kitchee and Hang Yuan desperate to pick up points and remain in the hunt for knockout round qualification.
After playing in the 2018 AFC Champions League, Kitchee have found the going tough on their return to the AFC Cup, while Hang Yuan, debutants last year, are still looking for their first ever points in the competition.
Wofoo Tai Po (HKG) vs 4.25 SC (PRK)
Venue: Mongkok Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: April 30, 20:00 UTC+8
Kitchee SC (HKG) vs Hang Yuan FC (TPE)
Venue: Mongkok Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick-off: May 1, 20:00 UTC+8
