5 times Indian Clubs surprised big teams in Continental Competitions

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Al Nejmeh(Nejmeh SC) 3-3 Mahindra United (Diss.) (AFC Cup)

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Mahindra United managed by Derrick Pereira won 2005/06 National Football League season to qualify for the 2007 AFC Cup. Drawn into a group with the Singapore Armed Forces, Happy Valley of Hong Kong and New Radiant Sports Club of the Maldives. Winning 4 out of their 6 group stage matches Mahindra United finished in the second position behind the Singapore Armed Forces. They qualified for the group stages by being the best second-placed in the East, South and South East Region. Drawn to face the 2005 AFC Cup runners up Al Nejmeh in the quarter-finals, Mahindra lost the home leg 1-2. Travelling to Beirut to face the 8 times Lebanese champions for the second leg, the Indian side were left with an uphill task at hand if they wanted to proceed further. And things looked all but over by the 25th minute into the first half in the Sports City stadium as the home side were leading by 2 goals to nil. Then came to an unforeseen comeback from Mahindra, Congolese striker Minga reduced the deficit a little after half an hour and then Harpreet Singh restored parity for the Indian side around the 64th minute before Andrews Pomeiye put Mahindra 3-2 ahead on the day and 4-4 on aggregate. They were on the cusp of qualifying for the semifinals on the away goal rule before heartbreak struck as Nejmeh was awarded a penalty late into stoppage time and Serbian defender Milan Bogunovic scored from the spot to take the Lebanese side to the semifinals.

Mohun Bagan 4-0 South China (AFC Cup)

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Mohun Bagan qualified for the AFC Cup in 2016 by virtue of being 2014/15 I League champions and they were drawn to face Hong Kong-based side South China along with Yangon United of Myanmar and Maziya of the Maldives. Mohun Bagan made the perfect start to life in the group stages as they scored 5 past Maziya at Guwahati in their opening encounter before travelling to Hong Kong to face the 41 times champions of the Hong Kong First Division and AFC competition veterans South China. In a tie where the Hong Kong side were firm favourites, Mohun Bagan pulled off a performance for the ages as they went on to score 4 past South China in their own backyard. Sony Norde was once again the driving force behind an unforgetful performance as Mohun Bagan had 4 different goal scorers on the night, with Norde, Lenny Rodrigues, Cornell Glen and Jeje Lalpekhlua all finding their names on the score sheet. Riding on their inspiring performance in Hong Kong Mohun Bagan qualified for the Round of 16 as group leaders before succumbing to Tampines Rovers of Singapore in the Round of 16 after a hard-fought game that ended in favour of the Singaporean side after extra time.