Dempo's Mahesh Gawli (left) and Safa's Khodr Salame go for a header during their AFC Cup semi-final second leg match in Hyderabad on Tuesday.HYDERABAD – Mohammad Kassas and substitute Hussain Tahan scored two goals each as Lebanese side Safa secured their place in the AFC Cup final with an emphatic 4-1 win over Dempo at Gachibowli Stadium on Tuesday.
Safa led 1-0 from the first leg in Beirut and Kassas extended their advantage after only nine minutes before scoring his second of the game ten minutes later.
Congolese striker Mboyo Iyomi gave the Indian side some hope by pulling a goal back just after the hour but Tahan struck twice in the dying minute to send Safa through 5-1 on aggregate.
Safa held a narrow advantage thanks to Hamze Aboud’s last-minute strike two weeks ago and the hosts went on the offensive from the opening whistle as they attempted to get back on level terms, creating the first chance after seven minutes when Anthony Pereira’s powerful volley went wide.
However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring two minutes later when Rony Azar’s free-kick was met by Kassas, who headed his side ahead.
Needing three goals to retrieve the tie, Dempo surged forward in attack, leaving huge gaps at the back. Safa took full advantage in the 19th minute as Kassas capitalised of a defensive error and went past three defenders before firing home a powerful shot from inside the area.
Dempo would not throw in the towel despite the three-goal deficit and head coach Armando Colaco brought in Joaquim Santan for Nicolau Borges at half-time, a move which paid dividends as the hosts started to create good opportunities in the second half.
The Dempo pressure paid off one minute after the hour when Iyomi received a long ball from the back, chesting the ball down and beating two defenders before firing past Safa goalkeeper Nazih Tay.
The home side should have levelled the score on the night a minute later when Ranti Martins fired a powerful shot on goal which was well stopped by Tay at full stretch.
Dempo continued to exert strong pressure and thought they had pulled another goal back in the dying minutes when Iyomi headed in only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
The visitors added to the score line in the final minute when Tahan turned in a cross by Kassas from close range to make it 3-1 before the substitute struck again with a header deep into stoppage time to cap a memorable night for the Lebanese side.
Source:The AFC.com
