Four goals, including a hattrick by mercurial striker Leandson Da Silva, enabled Bahrain's Muharraq to rout India's Dempo with an emphatic 4-0 scoreline and brighten their chances to qualify for the knock-out stage of the AFC Cup at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.
Muharraq, who remain unbeaten, maintained their position at the top of group a with seven points from two wins and a draw.
While Dempo remained at three points from equal number of outings with one victory and two defeats.
The visitors, whose performance has improved with every outing, were outstanding. They started in a whirlwind fashion and came up with a good move as early as in the third minute with Salmeen Mohammed initiating a move and crossing to forward Leandson Da Silva, whose attempted shot was well saved by Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal.
Two minutes later, Muharraq had another chance but this time Aldakeel Abdula wasted it.
Muharraq shot into the lead in the eighth minute of the first half through their ace striker Leandson, who shot off a well measured pass from Salmeen Mohammad to make it 1-0.
Dempo came up with a good move in the 24th minute and could have almost equalised the score but, Muharraq defender Aameer Musaifer brought off a brilliant goal line save off shot by Ranty Martin.
The visitors had another chance to increase their lead in the 30th minute when Fatadi Abdulla initiated a move and passed to better placed Leandson. But Leandson's attempted shot missed the mark narrowly.
In the next minute Leandson, after collecting a pass from Jamal Brarou, unleashed powerful 25 yarder shot that found the net to make it 2-0.
Two minutes before the breather, Dempo had a chance to reduce the margin but Muharraq goalkeeper Abbas Sayed Mohamed smartly fisted over the powerful shot by Dempo's Anthony Pereira.
Muharraq continued to attack in the second half too and pumped in two more goals through Leandson in the 48th and 59th minute.
The visitors were awarded a spot kick in the 48th minute by referee Vo Minh Tri of Vietnam, when Dempo's substitute defender Dominic Noronha brought down Muharraq's striker Aldakeel in the danger zone. Leandson converted the spot kick correctly to take the score to 3-0.
Leandson scored his 4th goal in the 59th minute and sealed the fate of Dempo. It was a pass from Aldankeel.
Towards the close of play, visitors could have increased their lead but Dempo goalkeeper blocked the shot attempted by Aldoseri.
