A fine brace from Dempo's Nigerian recruit Ranty Martins aided I-League champions Goan outfit to register an upset 2-1 win over Bahrain league winners Muharraq in its AFC Cup away match played at the National Stadium in Manama on Wednesday.
With the second win in the competition Dempo took its tally to six points and they are one behind group ‘A’ leaders Muharraq and Lebanese champions Al Ansar, who beat Sur of Oman 2-0 in the other pool match. There are two group matches left for all the teams.
Martins scored apiece in each half (11th and 62nd minute) to lead his team to victory while Brazilian striker Leandson da Silva pulled one back for Muharraq after converting a 77th minute penalty kick.
Dempo took the lead as early in the 11th minute of the play. The goal was appeared to be a set piece movement after Brazilian playmaker Robert Silva’s free-kick was flicked on by Chidi Edeh to his compatriot Martins who did the finishing act by finding the net.
The hosts got a golden opportunity to level terms four minutes later but Leandson exaggerated volley went over the crossbar. Dempo’s custodlian Abhijit Mondal was at hid best on Wednesday night as he came to the fore for Dempo’s rescue on numerous occasions.
Mondal thwarted Abdulla’s close range shot just before the breather. The luck was also riding on Dempo’s side as Jaycee John’s perfect shot came off the crossbar in the second half.
Dempo’s second goal was also due to the good amalgamation of Silva and Ranty. Martins’s fine volley landed up in the net after connecting well on Silva’s free-kick.
Down with two goals, Muharraq started to exert pressure on the rival citadel that finally produced result 13 minutes from time.
Dempo’s Domnic Noronha wrongly tackled substitute striker Mohamed Jaafar inside the box and the officiating referee didn’t hesitate for once to award the penalty kick and Leandson made no mistake in converting it to reduce the margin of his team.
Thereafter Bahrain outfit tried their hard in quest of an equaliser but Dempo players held their fort firmly denying any chance to their opponents to surge in.
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