Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) – Philippines Football League titlist United City FC began its maiden AFC Champions League campaign, settling for a 1-1 draw against Beijing Guoan FC on Saturday night at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Filipino football star Stephan Schrock scored the match’s first goal in the 28th minute from a 20-yard strike on the left side of the goal box. His goal came off a pass from defender Sean Kane, who received the corner kick from the Filipino German team captain.
The top Filipino professional football club looked to increase its lead in the opening minutes of the second half, but the open look of future naturalized player Bienvenido Marañón was denied by Chinese goalkeeper Guo Quanbo, and the follow-up shot by newly acquired Kiwi midfielder Jai Ingham was thwarted by Beijing defender Liang Shaowen.
Shaowen again broke the heart of the Filipinos after tying the game at one apiece in the 73rd minute from a free kick that eluded United City defenders.
Mark Hartman attempted to score a goal in the last possession of the match in the 94th minute but the ball went straight to the top of the post.
Newly appointed United City FC head coach Jason Withe expressed his disappointment for the missed opportunity to win the match.
“I think we dominated for large periods of the game. You look at possession, it’s probably 70% possession for us, one shot on goal (for Beijing), which was obviously a great free kick,” said Withe in the post-game press conference.
With the draw, United City FC and Beijing Guoan FC received a point each in the Group I of the tournament. It is the first point for a Filipino club in AFC Champions League history.
United City will next face South Korean club Daegu FC on June 29 and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale on July 2 and 5. They will again battle Beijing Guoan FC on July 8 and Daegu FC on July 11.
PFL runner-up Kaya FC-Iloilo earlier suffered a 1-4 defeat against Thai pro league champion BG Patham United in its debut in the continental club tournament.
