Dhaka, February 18: Bangladesh Premier League champions Dhaka Abahani tasted a 1-0 defeat against TC Sports Club of the Maldives in the second match of the Sheikh Kamal International Cup on Saturday.

The heavily defensive strategy of TC Sports Club appeared too tough for the Bangladesh outfit at the M A Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. After conceding a goal early in the first half, Abahani did everything apart from scoring a goal.

A quick counter attack saw TC Sports Club take the lead in the 16th minute. Midfielder Hasan cut a low cross to his attacking partner Ibrahim who hit the roof of the net with a precise flick advancing his team 1-0. That was to be the deciding goal of the match.

Abahani, however, came back with a number of attacks but the TC net remained elusive for Dhaka’s sky blues till the end of the first half. In the 36th minute midfielder Emon Babu saw his right footer ricochet off a TC defender.

Four minutes later, much to the dismay of the Abahani tent, English attacker Jonathan David’s glancing header missed the TC crosspiece by a whisker.

Abahani played with more intensity in the second half but poor finishing by the strikers cost them the match.