Andrews Pomeyie scored a brace in the second half to guide Mahindra United to a fluent 3-1 victory over Happy Valley of Hong Kong in the Group E AFC Cup home match in Goa on Tuesday.
Their third successive win consolidated Mahindra's position atop the league table.
Mahindra, who led 1-0 at half time, scored through S Venkatesh (41st minute) and Pomeyie (72nd, 76th).
Happy Valley reduced the margin in the 56th minute through Gerard Ambassa.
Mahindra have nine points, while Happy Valley, who are at the bottom after a victory and two defeats, have three points.
Riding high on their good form, Mahindra quickly settled into a rhythm; they penetrated the rival defence with a series of raids and had three clear chances at goal in the first half.
K Ajayan had the first chance to put Mahindra ahead in the 10th minute but failed. Later, N S Manju and Pomeyie were unable to beat rival 'keeper C Y Fan.
After missing clear chances, Mahindra forged ahead in the 41st minute. Yusif Yakubu sent a pass to Pomeyie which defender Gerard Ambassa intercepted, but headed the ball in the path of S Venkatesh, who dispatched a firm grounder intot he goal.
Happy Valley, needed to win today in order to keep their hopes alive for the next round, came close to scoring twice but Mahindra's keeper Sandip Nandy did well to put out the ball before K K Sham and Gerard Ambassa could score.
But the Hong Kong club found the equaliser 12 minutes after resumption. S Monterie floated the ball to M T Peon, who took a shot from the top of the box; the ball deflected off Ambassa and bulged the net.
Mahindra, however, regained the lead in the 72nd minute. Pomeyie dispossessed defender E J Fantin on top of the box, raced in unchallenged, hoodwinked onrushing Fan before slotting the ball into an empty net.
Four minutes later, he increased the lead. Substitute Sushant Mathew split the defense with a through pass to Pomeyie, who beat the 'keeper with a deft placement.
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