New Delhi: Striker Mohamad Kassas and substitute Hussein Tahan scored two goals each as Lebanese side Safa FC ended Dempo’s run in the AFC Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory.
The Lebanese side already enjoyed a 1-0 lead over the Goan club, after they beat Dempo in the first leg, and today’s victory stretched its overall lead to 5-1, thus booking a place in the final of the AFC Cup for the first time in their history.
Forward Mboyo Iyomi pulled one back on the hour mark for Dempo and tried to infuse some life into the match, but it was not enough for the home side, as they had to score four goals to overcome the goal deficit.
Safa started the match on a lively note, and soon enough, scored their first goal in the 10th minute, when Kassas headed fellow striker Azar’s free-kick into the goal. The Goan side looked weak in defense, and Kassas capitalized on a defensive error and scored his second goal in the 17th minute.
Dempo then started attacking, and tried to force the pace of the match, and forward Iyomi was particularly impressive in attack, but could not put the ball into the back of the net. They had two half-chances just on the stroke of half-time, but Safa held onto their lead going into the break.
In the 47th minute, Ranty Martins headed Iyomi’s cross into the hands of the Safa ‘keeper, and there was a spring in the step of Dempo’s players.
Coach Armando Colaso substituted midfielder Nicolau Borges with forward Joaquim Abranches in the 55th minute, as the home side looked to overturn the huge goal deficit, and it looked as if the move was working, as Dempo started creating more chances.
Iyomi then scored in the 60th minute, after chesting down the ball and went past two defenders to keep the home side’s hopes alive.
The match soon slowed down, and the home side’s players got frustrated, and were shown two yellow cards in the space of two minutes.
Their next chance came as late as the 86th minute, when skipper Climax Lawrence’s fierce volley was tipped over the bar by Safa’s ‘keeper Nazih Tay.
Iyomi thought he had another goal, when he scored in the 87th minute, only for it to be ruled offside.
In the last minute of normal time, Kassas again showed some brilliant play, turning Mahesh Gawli inside out, and crossed Tahan to rub salt to Dempo's injuries.
Tahan completed the rout when he scored in injury time to send his side into the finals of the AFC Cup for the first time.
Final Score: Dempo SC 1-4 Safa FC.
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