Al Salama fired home in the 81st minute to cancel out Ahmed Salah's 28th-minute penalty to leave Arbil winless in the competition thus far.

The Kuwaitis started brightly and came close to the opener on three minutes when Ahmed Ajab volleyed over the crossbar.

On 14 minutes Arbil carved out their first chance when Wisam Zaki's cross from the right was met with a bicycle-kick from Salah that flew off target.

The Iraqis who took the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Alaa Nairus was felled in the penalty area by Mohammed Rashed and Salah made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick.

Arbil could have gone further ahead a minute later but Salah headed straight at Nawaf Al Khaldi.

Brahima Keita almost found a leveller for Al Qadisiya with 18 minutes remaining but his shot was kept out by Dydar Hamed.

But the Kuwaitis did not have too much longer to wait to draw level, and as the game entered its last 10 minutes Al Salama popped up with a fine goal, beating defender Salam Shaker before firing beyond the helpless Hamed.