Abahani have seen the exit door from the AFC Cup playoff after they conceded a 3-1 defeat against hosts Mohun Bagan at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India Tuesday.
Stewart Cornelius put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute following a massive blunder from Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith in failing to grip a cross as the new Abahani forward needed only a tap-in.
Australian World Cupper Jason Cummings converted a penalty to equalize the margin for Mohun Bagan in the 35th minute after Sushanto Tripura committed a foul inside the box.
The two sides had one chance each just before the break with Cummings shooting wide from just outside six yards while Abahani saw Yousef Mohammad’s header hit the side bar.
The home side took the lead from an own goal by Milad Sheykh Soleimani two minutes before Armando Sadiku extended it at the hour mark.
Mohun Bagan earlier defeated Nepal’s Machhindra FC 3-1 at the same venue last Wednesday while Abahani edged past Club Eagles of Maldives 1-0 in Sylhet in the preliminary round to advance to the play-off.
With the win, the Kolkata giants progressed to the group stage of this season’s AFC Cup where Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings will be competing.
RESULT
Mohun Bagan 3 (Cummings 37-P, Soleimani 58-og, Sadiku 60) Abahani 1 (Cornelius 17)