Mahindra, Dempo held in AFC Cup

Federation Cup champions Mahindra United and reigning National Football League champions Dempo Sports Club, Goa, drew their respective matches 2-2 in the second round of the AFC Cup on Tuesday.

Mahindra United came from behind twice to hold Brothers Union of Bangladesh in a thrilling Group A match at Dhaka while Dempo conceded a late goal to drop points at Ashgabat against Merv of Turkmenistan.

This was Mahindra's second consecutive draw in the tournament after a similar 2-2 stalemate against Al Ahed of Lebanon. Brothers had lost the opener to Al Muharraq of Bahrain 0-2.

The first half in Dhaka ended goalless and Abul Hossain Mohamed gave the Bangladesh league champions the lead in the 52nd minute.

Mahindra's Ghanaian forward Yusif Yakubu leveled the score seven minutes later but the Mumbai outfit failed to prevent Mohamed Hassan Ameli from restoring the hosts' advantage four minutes later.

However, Brazilian striker Jose Ramirez Barreto struck in the 72nd minute to ensure that the visitors walked away with a well-deserved point.

Mahindra United will be away to Al Muharraq on April 11.

In the game at Asghabat, Merv fell behind in the 13th minute when Nigerian forward Ranty Martins, who also struck in Dempo's opening round defeat to Al Nasr, found the net after a neat exchange.

But the NFL champions came close to conceding the equalizer at least twice in the first period itself.

Merv, the Turkmenistan Cup champions, injected more men forward for the equaliser in the second half.

One such raid saw Clifford Miranda bringing down Yevginy Tkachenko as he was getting ready to take a shot at goal and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot.

Oleg Yuzbashyan sent Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal the wrong way to convert the easiest of setpieces 10 minutes from time.

Mahtumkuli Begendjev undid all the hardwork with an own goal in the 87th minute and it looked like Armando Colaco's men would earn their first full points.

But Yuzbashyan salvaged a draw with his second strike in the final minute.