Hopes for a comeback were raised for the hosts as early as the eighth minute when defender Turbat Daginaa beat goalkeeper Junildo Pereira to put Mongolia 1-0 up.

Timor-Leste regrouped after conceding the early goal and started putting pressure on Mongolia’s defence, keeping them on their toes.

However, neither side was able to change the scoreline with the tie still hanging in the balance heading into the half-time break.

Mongolia head coach Bayasgalan Garidmagnai altered his side for the second half, sending on Dulguun Amaraa and it didn’t take long for the midfielder to make an impact as he netted in the 55th minute to further reduce his side’s deficit.

Needing one more goal to take the tie into extra time, Mongolia continued to push until the final whistle but couldn’t add to the score and were forced to bid goodbye to the competition.