Five-time Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings suffered their second consecutive defeat in the AFC Challenge League when they lost 3-0 to Lebanon鈥檚 Al Ansar FC in their Group B second match at the Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Stadium in Kuwait on Tuesday.
Al Ansar鈥檚 midfield trio, Abubakar Akuki, Hichem Khalfallah and Mohamad Hebous scored once each to get them back on track while the Kings could hardly think of going further.
The three group winners and the best runners-up team from the West Zone will advance to the quarter-finals, joining the other four 鈥� the two top-place finishers from each group of the East Zone 鈥� teams of this tournament.
Kings and Al Ansar, both sides came into the tie, having suffered identical 3-2 defeats to Oman鈥檚 Al Seeb Club and to hosts Kuwait Sports Club, respectively, on October 28.
Kings will play their third and final match of the four-team group against Kuwait Sports Club at the same venue on October 31.
On Tuesday, Kings made an early threat with their Brazilian midfielder Raphael Augusto's aerial attempt from just outside the box, following a poor clearance from Al Ansar.
Kings almost found a way through in the second minute when their Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes鈥� grounded effort from the box needed only to beat Al Ansar keeper Nazih Assaad, following Nigerian forward Sunday Emmanuel鈥檚 through pass.
Al Ansar, however, finished the first half on a high with the breakthrough coming in the 43rd minute when Hebous鈥檚 cross from a set-piece found Abubakar, who finished with a twisting header.
The winners could have doubled the lead in the 53rd minute after being awarded a penalty, following Nigerian defender Emmanuel Tony鈥檚 foul on Hebous.聽
But Kings鈥� keeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon guessed well to save midfielder Ali Tneich鈥檚 spot-kick.
Tony鈥檚 day went wrong again in the 73rd minute after conceding another penalty for committing a foul on Akuki, with Khalfallah making no mistake to convert the spot in the 73rd minute.
Hebous added the final one, lobbing over Srabon in the third minute of the injury time.