Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings conceded a 2-0 defeat against the United Arab Emirates’ Pro-League champions Sharjah FC in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League at Sharjah Stadium Tuesday night.
This was the first time a Bangladeshi club played in the preliminary round of Asia’s biggest club competition where big-budget Sharjah have been a regular participant.
The Spanish head coach Oscar Bruzon fielded six foreigners and five local players in the starting XI, including keeper Anisur Rahman Zico who made a couple of saves to protect the goal for half an hour.
Dorielton Gomez got the first chance for the Kings in the 33rd minute but the Brazilian striker’s header on a Robson Robinho corner fell on top of the net.
Former Barcelona midfielder and Bosnian international Miralem Pjanic looked threatening before the break as he fed the opening goal for Brazilian Luan Pereira just prior to the first-half whistle.
Kings created a couple of chances soon after the resumption but Brazilian midfielder Miguel Perreira and Dorielton saw both of their efforts go straight to the Sharjah netminder.
Pereira doubled the lead in the 71st minute when his towering header following a cross from Abdelaziz Alkaabi gave Zico no chance.
The loss means the Kings failed to reach the play-off of the Champions League and would have to participate in the AFC Cup, the second-tier club competition of the continent.
RESULT
Sharjah FC 2 (Pereira 45+3, 71) 0 Bashundhara Kings