Dempo score their maiden win

Dempo recorded their maiden victory in the AFC Cup when they scored a convincing 6-1 win over Merw of Turkministan to finish their group 'B' league engagements at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, Margo on Tuesday.

Dempo, who drew 2-2 in the away match scored through Johnny D'Cruz (20th), Samir Naik (24th), Clifford Miranda (42nd and 79th) and Roberoto Silva (69th, 87th). Merw pulled one back through Kurban in the 90th minute.

Dempo who were knocked out of the competition after they lost both their matches to Al Nasr of Oman, who qualified for the next round winning all the four matches, finished second with four points from four matches. Merw finished at the bottom with one point from four matches.

The visitors, who found it difficult to adjust to the humid condition, were the first to test the rival goal and Dempo had close shaves as 'keeper Satish Kumar thwarted Kurban, Arslan, Merdan and Gamlet from scoring.

Johnn D'Cruz put Dempo in the lead in the 20th minute, when he drove home an angular shot from inside the box off a long lob by Roberto Silva.

Four minutes later, Samir Naik increased the lead when he surprised 'keeper Rasim with a 40-yard shot to find the far post.

Three minutes before the interval, Clifford Miranda swelled the lead when he tapped home a square pass from close after Ranty Martins doing the spade work to put the match beyond the reach of the visitors.

The change of ends saw Dempo taking total command over the proceedings with Roberto Silva finding the net in the 69th minute.

Ten minutes later, Clifford Miranda completed his brace from close range.

Roberto Silva then rounded off the tally of Ranty Martins pass in the 87th minutes to finish their league engagements in style with a resounding win.

Merw managed to pull one back in the dying minutes through Kurban off Arslan pass.