Jordan's Al Hussein proved too strong for ten-man Dempo, winning the AFC Cup league match 3-0 at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday.
The victory saw the Jordanians emerge on top after the first leg matches with an all-win record.
After initial resistance, mainly from Dempo 'keeper Satish Kumar, Al Hussein, who led 1-0 at half-time, scored through Al-Zboun (33rd minute), Hatamleh (75th) and substitute Edmoud (injury time).
The Federation Cup champions were pegged into their own half and had one chance in each session but the well-marked Ranty Martins failed to find the target on both occasions.
Al Hussein, who won both of their matches, lead the table with six points followed by Al Ahed, have three after a victory over Dempo.
Dempo are yet to open their account, having lost both the matches they played in the group.
Al Hussein, who were superior in terms of skill, had the Dempo citadel under continuous pressure in the first half but were unable to take an early lead as Satish Kumar put up an excellent show under the bar, denying Bani-Hani, Al Sheyab and Alriahna from scoring.
However, the Dempo defence crumbled in the 33rd minute when a move from the right saw Bani-Hani send a measured low goalmouth cross for Alriahna, who in turn, laid a pass to unmarked Alzboun.
Alzboun tapped in from close to put Al Hussein 1-0 up at half-time.
Dempo suffered a double blow nine minutes before the interval when their medio Nascimento Silveira was shown the second yellow card by referee Busurmankulov for fouling Alriahna.
But Dempo made efforts to score in the second half, bringing in striker Ishfaq Ahmed in place of off-colour Clifford Miranda and came close scoring twice but first an R C Prakash try missed the mark narrowly and later Johnny's shot went over the bar.
After the change of ends, Al Hussein continued to mount pressure.
Al Zboun, from the middle, sent a pass to Hatamlah, on the right, who dribbled past a rival player and took a casual shot at Dempo's goal. The ball hit the inside edge of the right post and went in, taking the Dempo defence by surprise, as 'keeper Satish tried to guard the other post.
Al Hussein substitute Ehmoud then completed the rout in injury time after Dempo tried to stage a comeback in the last quarter of the match, when he uncorked a right-footer from inside the box off Al-Zboun's pass.
Dempo made occassional forays and had two close chances one in each half but Ranty Martins lacked direction to find the target on both the occasions.
Dempo will now travel to Jordan to play their away match against Al Hussein on April 20.
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