However, the Iraq league champions' slim hopes of qualification from Group A had already been extinguished by Al Wahda's victory earlier in the day.

The UAE outfit had already sealed a quarter-final berth with a 3-0 victory against Al Rayyan so both teams were playing for pride and as such, the match turned out to be an exciting contest.

Al Zawra'a took a 1-0 lead in the first half through a Wisam Hafidh penalty before Al Arabi levelled the scores five minutes after the break thanks to Syrian striker Firas Al Khatib.

However, Al Zawra'a netted two goals in nine minutes as Ahmed Abrahim and Nawaf Lafy were both on target, before Al Khatib bagged his second goal of the night six minutes before the end.

Al Arabi started the stronger thanks to some impressive work from winger Ali Al Maqseed, who was presented with the game's first chance after only eight minutes but fired wide, before Al Zawra'a goalkeeper Sarmed Rashid kept out a second effort five minutes later.

Al Zawra'a went close to breaking the deadlock after quarter of an hour when Ahmad Ibrahim surged down the left flank before firing in a shot that hit the left-hand post.

But the Iraqi side did go in front in the 22nd minute when Al Arabi defender Hussain Al Qhareeb brought down Ibrahim inside the area and Hafidh despatched the spot-kick into the left corner past Al Arabi goalkeeper Yousef Al Marzouqi.

Al Arabi could have levelled the scores on the half-hour mark when Al Khatib found Ali Al Maqseed inside the box but the 20-year-old defender could only place his shot wide.

However, Al Maqseed was again heavily involved as Al Arabi had a golden chance to equalise on the stroke of half-time as he was pushed inside the area by Al Zawra'a defender Ahmed Muhsin and Iranian referee Mohsin Torki pointed to the spot.

Captain Khaled Zadah stepped up instead of Al Khatib after the regular Al Arabi penalty taker had missed twice in the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup.

However, Zadah didn't fare much better and blasted the ball over the bar.

Al Khatib then hauled Al Arabi back into the game at the start of the second period before Ahmed Mohammed's cross from the left was driven into the net by Abrahim to give Al Zawra'a the lead for a second time on 69 minutes.

It was one they never relinquished and they notched a third after 78 minutes when Haidar Husan sent Nawaf Lafy clear and the midfielder finished with aplomb.

Al Arabi pulled a goal back in the 84th minute when Al Khatib scored his second after he outpaced Wisam Hafidh before chipping the ball over the Al Zawra'a goalkeeper but it proved too little too late.