A-League straggler Adelaide United left their domestic woes at home, starting their Asian Champions League football campaign with an outstanding 2-1 away win over Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor in Tashkent.

Languishing in second from bottom place in the 10-team A-League, Adelaide displayed tremendous tenacity and discipline on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

Nigel Boogard scored with a header from a corner in the 11th minute and fellow defender Antony Golec netted from a superb counter attack in the 53rd minute.

Kamoliddin Murzoev scored in stoppage time for Bunyodkor, who have won the Uzbekistan title for the past four seasons.

The visitors played with admirable composure on a poor pitch where divots were constantly being churned up.

The Reds came into the game in horrid form, beaten in their past three games and victorious in just one of their past 10.

They created the better chances in the first hour, but Adelaide goalkeeper and captain Eugene Galekovic made some important saves in the final half hour.

Left-sided Socceroo star David Carney was making his debut for Bunyodkor.

He had a number of shots, most of them off target and was generally well contained by the Reds.

Boogard opened the scoring after he pounced on a near post flick from a right wing corner.

Industrious Iain Ramsay went close with a shot in the 27th minute, as Adelaide counter-attacked with intelligence.

Busy striker Bruce Djite, the only forward in Adelaide’s 4-5-1 formation, put a header wide shortly after halftime, before Adelaide doubled their lead.

Hard working Golec found the net after Ramsay had a shot blocked.

Bunyodkor dominated the final quarter of the game, but veteran Galekovic made six saves before being beaten just before the final whistle.