Dempo march into AFC Cup quarters

Ranti Martins and Chidi Edeh struck a brace each to outplay Oman’s Sur Club 5-2 in their final Group A match and take their side to their first AFC Cup quarter-final here today.

Captain Martins scored in the 30th and 38th minute, while his strike partner Chidi Edeh found the target in the 64th and 90th minute. India midfielder Climax Lawrence contributed with one goal in the 72nd minute. Mohammad Salim Mohammed (75th) and Al Harbi Saleh Rashid (86th) scored for the visiting side.

With 10 points from six matches, Dempo have ensured a place in the quarter-finals of Asia’s second tier club competition.

East Bengal, who needed a win for any chance of qualifying, lost to Ahli Sana’a of Yemen 0-1 today in Group B. Dempo had failed to get past the group stage of the competition in two earlier occasions in 2005 and 2006.