Rajshahi Stars have been eliminated from the AFC Women's Champions League preliminary round after suffering a second consecutive defeat, going down 2-1 to Malaysian club Sabah FC at Likas Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, following their opening 4-0 loss to India's East Bengal.
Sabah, who had thrashed Guam's Rovers FC 13-0 in their opener, took control of the match early, dominating the first half with six shots on goal, three on target.
Enzi Hekima Starks broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, dribbling past two defenders before finishing with a precise low shot.
Rajshahi struggled to find their rhythm throughout, with passing errors and a lack of attacking structure leaving their national team players well below their usual standard.
Maria, Tohura and Monika, three of the squad's most recognisable names, were largely ineffective across both matches in the competition.
Sabah doubled their lead in the 80th minute when Starks exploited a defensive error, cutting inside past Bimola BK and Afeida Khandaker before squeezing a low shot past goalkeeper Rupna Chakma.
Rajshahi finally found the net in the 87th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Mossammat Sultana, who received the ball on the right, stepped back and curled a stunning long-range effort from outside the box that floated over the goalkeeper and into the net.
It was Rajshahi's first goal of the competition and gave them something to celebrate, even if it could not alter the outcome.
Head coach Golam Robbani Choton said he was satisfied with certain aspects of the performance despite the result.
Rajshahi will play their third and final group match against Rovers FC on 23 August, with nothing but pride left to play for.
This was Rajshahi's first appearance in the AFC Women's Champions League, competing as champions of the Bangladesh Women's Football League.
No Bangladeshi club had featured in the first two editions of the competition.
Meanwhile, in Group F in Yangon, Ritu Porna Chakma's Ayeyawady continued their impressive form with an 8-0 thrashing of Lebanon's No Limits, recording their second consecutive victory after beating Singapore's Albirex Jurong 4-0 in their opener.
Ritu Porna, who started the opening match, came on as a second-half substitute in the 64th minute with Ayeyawady already leading 6-0.
The Bangladesh star forward came close to opening her personal account in added time when a shot from Win Thaeingyi Tun struck the post and fell to her inside the box, but the ball bounced awkwardly and her left-footed effort went wide.
She left the pitch smiling nonetheless, with Ayeyawady in commanding form ahead of their final group match against New Taipei City Hang Yuen.