Al Ahed took the lead after 16 minutes through Salih Sader before Al Tilal levelled just after the hour mark when Mohammed Ali Farid struck.

However, Samir Karama scored the winning goal five minutes before the end to reignite the hosts’ dreams of reaching the knockout stage.

Al Ahed went in front when Iraqi midfielder Sader struck a powerful free-kick that went in via the crossbar.

The early setback forced Al Tilal to press forward and could have levelled after 32 minutes but Ali Farid’s strike from inside the area flew over the crossbar.

Al Ahed had a good chance to double their advantage four minutes before the break when Ahmad Zreik drove into the area from the right but fired wide.

Al Tilal changed their shape in the second-half and threatened two minutes after the break when Karama’s close-range shot was denied by Al Ahed goalkeeper Bilal Hachem.

Hachem was called into action again after 50 minutes when he kept out Fatehi Gaber’s header from a corner before the Lebanese goalkeeper denied the same player one minute later after a defensive slip from Ali Mteirek.

But Al Tilal’s pressure paid off in the 61st minute when Ahmed Al Wadi’s cross from the left was met by Gaber and although Hachem saved his effort, the ball fell to Ali Farid and he slotted home from close range.

Al Ahed should have retaken the lead seven minutes later when Ahmad Zreik found Hassan Matouk but he shot over the bar.

Al Tilal went close in the 78th minute when Ali Farid’s shot was pushed away by Hachem and Ameen Awadh then hit the left upright three minutes later with a shot from inside the area.

However, the home side were not to be denied and grabbed a winner five minutes from time when Ali Farid’s initial shot was saved by Hachem only for the loose ball to fall to Karama, who scored into an empty net.