ASEAN CLUBS FALTER IN QUARTER-FINALS OF AFC CUP

Singapore Armed Forces FC (SAFFC) presented the best opportunity for a club from Asean to make the last four of the championship following their close 2-1 win over Al Nahda in the first leg in Singapore.

But a double from Togolese striker Datoma Yedibahoma in the 63rd and 90th minute and an earlier strike from Mansoor Al Naaimi’s free kick in the 28th minute put paid to SAFFC’s dream of making the next round.

Al Nahda made the semi-finals on a 4-2 aggregate victory.

In the meantime, another Singapore club Home United were denied their place in the last four of the meet when they conceded a frustrating 4-3 loss to India’s Dempo SC.

The score at the end of the first leg was 1-1.

Dempo got off to a dream start and took the lead with only 45 seconds on the clock when Mboyo Iyomi struck home before Home United skipper Peres De Oliviera blasted the equaliser on 13th minute.

But Dempo were back in front ten minutes later when Beto headed home.

And while Home had to make do without Valery Hiek for a second bookable offence, it did not deter them from nailing the equaliser in the 36th minute off Kengne Ludovick and then the lead for the first time in the game off Indra Sahdan Daud two minutes later.

But with seconds remaining to the break, Climax Lawrence gave Dempo the equaliser with a low drive for both teams to start on 3-3 in the second half.

Seven minutes to the end, Silva drilled home a loose ball to put Dempo in the semi-finals.

In the meantime, Kedah of Malaysia stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at home to allow Muharraq of Bahrain to advance on a 7-1 aggregate victory.

The score from the first leg in Manama was 5-0 in favour of Muharraq.

Brazilian striker Rico slammed home a brace with goals in the
29th and 39th minutes as Kedah scored their only goal of the game off Mohd Fadly Baharum in the 69th minute.

On the other hand, another Malaysian side Perak suffered a humiliating 5-0 beating at the hands of Safa as the side from Lebanon advanced on a 7-0 aggregate.

The score from the first leg was 2-0.

Rony Azar struck twice for the Lebanese side late in the first half (43rd and 45th minute) before Hussein Tahan (61st), Mohammad Kassas (68th) and Mahmoud El Zoughbi (90th) also found the back of the net to reach the last four.

PIC: Aleksandr Duric of Singapore Armed Forces FC