A YOUTHFUL Beijing Guoan side took on United City of the Philippines at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday with the Chinese players suddenly finding themselves as underdogs having left their first squad back home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United City, on the other hand, is one of ASEAN’s best sides in recent years.

As expected, United City assumed full control of proceedings from the get-go, however, Beijing’s kids managed to keep themselves organized and disciplined to limit their opposition from creating any meaningful chances.

However, the more experienced United City eventually found their way into the Beijing defense in the 28th minute, with none other than captain Stephan Schrock, a man who had been influential in United City’s rise in recent years, scoring the club’s first goal in the group stages of the AFC Champions Leauge.

Shrugging off Beijing midfielder Nebijan Muhmet on his way to Guo Quanbo’s goal, Schrock unleashed a powerful curler from 18 meters out that went beyond the goalkeeper and into the far corner, a strike that allowed United City to draw first blood.

The Filipinos continued bombarding their Chinese opposition in the second half, retaining their dominance in possession but with an added offensive edge that kept the Beijing defense busy. Former Pattaya United man Hikaru Minegishi tested Guo with a sublime effort in the 50th minute, before Bienvenido Maranon forced Guo into a save shortly afterwards.

Beijing players needed a moment of brilliance to get themselves back into the game and they got exactly just that in the 73rd minute: Beijing captain Liang Shaowen curled in a superb free kick beyond the reaches of United City goalkeeper Anthony Pinthus. (SD-Agencies)