By IANS,
New Delhi : Two goals from Nigerian striker Ranti Martins steered I-League champions Dempo to a 2-1 win over Bahrain league winners Al Muharraq in a group A Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match in Manama.
According to information received here, Martins opened the scoring after 11 minutes. He doubled the lead two minutes after the hour mark before Brazilian striker Leandson Da Silva converted a 77th minute penalty for Muharraq.
Dempo’s second win of the competition Wednesday sees the I-League side move to within a point of group leaders Muharraq and Al Ansar with just two games remaining after the Lebanon champions recorded a 2-0 victory over Sur.
The I-League champions opened the scoring as Robert Silva’s free kick was flicked by Chidi Edeh for Martins to net from close range.
Muharraq came close to equalising but Leandson volleyed over the crossbar four minutes later. Abdulla Omar also shot over midway through the first half.
Muharraq should have drawn level but Dempo goalkeeper made several crucial interventions. The best came in the first minute of stoppage time as he diverted Abdulla Omar’s close range shot away from danger.
Muharraq held a siege on the Dempo goal in the second half and came within a whisker of equalising. But Jaycee John’s well-struck effort rattled off the crossbar before being scrambled clear by Dempo defender John Dias.
The home side were made to pay for wasted opportunities. Dempo doubled their lead three minutes later as Martins’ first time volley from Silva’s free-kick found the back of the net.
Muharraq continued to press for a breakthrough. They finally pulled a goal back with 13 minutes remaining. Leandson made no mistake from the spot after Domnic Noronha had fouled substitute striker Mohamed Jaafar.
Dempo could have scored another goal in the first minute of stoppage time but Martins was denied a hat-trick by Muharraq goalkeeper Saye Mohamed Jaafar.