United City FC missed the chance to cop a win right on its AFC Champions League debut with a 1-1 draw against Beijing Guoan FC on Saturday, June 26, at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

United City and Beijing picked up one point each in the Group I standings of Asia’s premier club tournament.

Playing coach Stephan Schrock continued to prove how threatening he was, creating space for a solid opening goal from the corner of the box in the 28th minute.

However, Liang Showen evened the score in the 73rd minute after firing a beautiful free kick that sailed over United City keeper Anthony Pinthus.

United City had a chance to take the lead again with back-to-back corner kicks before the last two-minute mark, but the Philippine club’s attacking third failed to convert.

The Filipino club will vie for a win over South Korea’s Daegu FC on Tuesday, June 29.

United City FC, formerly known as Ceres-Negros FC, became the first Philippine football club to gain an outright berth to the AFC Champions League group stage after winning the 2020 Philippines Football League.

The club remains unrivaled in the country’s professional football league as it holds four straight titles since its inception in 2017. – Rappler.com