The win gave Al Arabi top spot in group A with 14 points along with Kazma and they will meet Al Tadamon in the semi-finals while Kazma will be taking on last year's AFC Champions League semi-finalists, Al Qadisiya.

Al Arabi took the lead at the half hour mark with a 30-yard stunner from Khaled Khalaf and finished the first half with a 1-0 lead.

Al Arabi made it 2-0 10 minutes before the end when Syrian striker Firas Al Khatib set up Khaled Abdukuddous who scored with a first-time strike from inside the area.

Al Salmiya nearly pulled a goal back with a powerful header from Brazilian striker Sergio Ricardo which slammed the right upright two minutes before the end.

The Brazilian made partial amends with a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time but it was too late for Al Salmiya.

Elsewhere, Al Kuwait hammered Al Yurmok 3-0 thanks to goals from Faraj Laheeb, Argentinian striker Sebastian Monesterolo and Waleed Ali but it wasn't enough for the league champions to qualify as they finished group A with only seven points.

In the other matches on Wednesday, Al Fahaheel edged Al Tadamon 3-0, Al Qadisiya beat Al Sulaibikhat by the same scoreline while Al Shabab edged Al Nasr 3-2.