United City wrapped up its maiden campaign in the AFC Champions League with a 4-0 loss to South Korean side Daegu Sunday, July 11 at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Philippines Football League champions kept the game scoreless until the 37th minute when Tsubasa Nishi produced the opener for the K-League club.
Daegu continued its onslaught in the second half, producing three goals courtesy of Lee Keunho, Edgar and substitute Jeong Chiin on its way to claiming the maximum three points.
The loss ended United City’s campaign with four points for third place in Group I, all of which were accumulated from a 1-1 tie and 3-2 victory over Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan that fielded a youth squad instead of its first team.
United City’s first-ever stint in Asia's top club competition was also marred by lopsided defeats earlier in the group stage to Daegu (7-0) and the eventual Group I winner Kawasaki Frontale of Japan (8-0).
UCFC did come close to producing a draw against Kawasaki in the second meeting before conceding a late goal in a 2-0 loss last July 5.
Learning from facing some of Asia’s top clubs, United City hopes to take advantage of the experience when it returns to domestic duties to defend the PFL title which could likely start Aug. 21.