A valiant Mahindra United had to endure heart-break as the Mumbai side conceded a late penalty against Al Nejmeh to bow out of the AFC Cup when they were within seconds of a semifinal berth.

Serbian defender Milan Bugonovic converted from the spot deep into stoppage time as 10-man Al Nejmeh drew 3-3 to advance to the last four of the competition for the third year in a row with a 5-4 aggregate. The Lebanese team will now face Jordan’s Shabab Al Ordun, who defeated Singapore Armed Forces FC 5-3 over the two legs.

It was almost a miraculous comeback from Derrick Pereira’s team, who came with a 1-2 deficit after the home leg.
It seemed all over when the home side took a 2-0 lead in the first half through strikes from Mohammad Ghaddar, who had scored a brace in the first leg, in the 12th minute and Croatian forward Ante Milas (23rd) for a 4-1 aggregate lead last night.

But Mahindra pulled a goal back through Congolese striker Edson Minga Dico (33rd minute) before the break and Harpreet Singh (64th) and Andrews Pomeyie (78th) found the net in the second half.