Mohun Bagan were eliminated from the AFC Cup after going down 2-1 to Singapore club Tampines Rovers in Guwahati. A Bikramjit Singh equalizer helped Bagan take the game into extra time, but Afiq Yunos' winner in the 117th minute meant it was the 10-men Rovers who qualified to the quarterfinals.
Bagan, who were without regular starters Sony Norde and Katsumi Yusa, were put on the back foot early on as Jermaine Pennant nearly put Rovers up front, his freekick hitting the crossbar. Pennant continued to be lively in attack, setting up chances for Fazaul Nawaz and Jordan Webb, who both failed to convert in the first half.
Bagan's best opportunity fell to Jeje Lalpekhlua, but his headed effort off a corner was cleared off the line. Bagan were dealt a major blow in the 38th minute when Cornell Glen went down clutching his hamstring and was soon replaced by Subhash Singh.
Rovers were reduced to 10 men eight minutes into the second half when Shakhir Hamza received a second yellow, but despite the numerical disadvantage, they took the lead through Webb, whose miscued cross caught the keeper Arnab Das off guard.
Bagan upped the tempo, and their pressure eventually paid off in the 72nd minute when midfielder Bikramjit struck from distance to net the equalizer. Bagan pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but Raju Gaikwad's header deep into stoppage time went over the bar. With the game venturing into extra time, Gaikwad had another chance to score, but his bicycle kick was well off target.
Bagan were made to rue those missed chances, as in the second period of extra time, even Bikramjit hobbled off with an injury. With all three substitutions already used, it meant Bagan also had to play the last few minutes with 10 men.
Sensing an opportunity, Rovers struck the winner with just three minutes left. Pennant, who was influential throughout the game, passed to Yunos, whose first-time finish ended in the far corner of the net.