Dempo rout Turkmenistan's Merw

Dempo registered their maiden victory in the AFC Cup, when they routed Merw of Turkmenistan 6-1 to finish their Group 'B' league engagements at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, in Goa, on Tuesday.

The Goa team, which drew 2-2 in the away match, scored through Johnny D'Cruz (20th minute), Samir Naik (24th), Clifford Miranda (42nd and 79th) and Roberto Silva (69th, 87th).

Merw pulled one back through Kurban in the 90th minute.

Dempo, who were knocked out of the competition after losing both their matches to Al Nasr of Oman, who qualified for the next round by winning all their 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 conditions, 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 that found 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 did the spadework, 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, scoring from close range.

Roberto Silva then rounded off the tally, scoring from a Ranty Martins pass in the 87th minute.

Merw pulled one back in the dying minutes through Kurban off a pass from Arslan.