Bagan go down 0-2 to Tampine Rovers in an ill-tempered match

Singapore, May 8 (UNI) Alam Shah strucked twice for Tampines Rovers to beat Mohun Bagan 2-0 and virtually take his side to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup in an ill-tempered Group F match here today.

The Singapore international striker opened the scoring at Tampines Stadium with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 34th minute and slotted home his second in the 65th minute as Tampines consolidated at the top of the group with 13 points.

However, Alam Shah's evening ended on a bitter note as he was dismissed 18 minutes from time for a bad challenge on Douglas Santos that sparked off a scuffle between the players which led to clearing of the benches of both sides.

Mohun Bagan dominated play early on with the attacking trio of Baichung Butia, Lalampuia and Jose Baretto creating problems for the nervous Tampines back-line.

But for all of Bagan's attacking endeavour, it was Tampines that created the better chances in the first half and visitors' goalkeeper Shilton Paul was called into action on a couple of times.

Tampines first goal started from a Dipak Mondal mispass who gave the ball away on the left to Tampines Thailand international Sutee Suksomkit, who whipped a high cross into the centre towards Peres de Oliviera who headed it towards the penalty spot. Alam Shah got hold of the ball with his back to goal before launching an acrobatic bicycle kick that gave Bagan goalkeeper no chance.

Bagan's best chance of the first half came four minutes before the break when Jose Baretto went down the left and fed an unmarked Mehtab Hussain, who blazed over from 10 yards.

Bagan went close to levelling the score in the 51st minute when Lalampuia fired a fierce shot that hit goalkeeper Rezal Hassan and fell right at the feet of Jose Baretto, who, however, shot wide off the target.

The Indian side intensified the pressure but were caught on the wrong foot in the 66th minute when de Oliveira burst up the middle of the pitch on the counter attack. The Brazilian was surrounded by four defenders and lost possession but the ball broke to an unmarked Alam Shah, who calmly slotted the ball past Paul.

Things heated up in the closing minutes and a series of bad challenges culminated in an over-the-top tackle by Alam Shah on Santos in the 72nd minute.

A melee ensued between the two sets of players and officials from both teams spilled on to the pitch in an attempt to calm the situation. When the dust had settled, the only player to be dismissed was the home side's two-goal hero.

UNI