Federation Cup champions Mahindra United, trailing by an early second half goal, produced a late charge to score two quick goals and record a 2-1 victory over Lebanon's Al Ahed in a Group 'A' league match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Tuesday.
The victory brightened Mahindra United's chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals as one of the two best second-placed teams. The top teams from the six groups directly make it to the quarter-finals.
Mahindra United, having drawn all their three 'away' fixtures and lost by a solitary goal to group leaders Al Muharraq, have six points. They host Brothers Union of Bangladesh on May 16. The Mumbai side, who are in third place behind leaders Al Muharraq (10 points) and Al Ahed (7 points), have to win against the Bangladesh side, and hope that Al Ahed lose to Al Muharraq, to confirm their passage to the next round.
The Mumbai outfit, having gone through a hectic schedule of playing in this tournament and the National Football League, decided to rest several regulars, including Brazilian striker Jose Baretto, defenders Mahesh Gawali, skipper S Venkatesh and Steven Dias, in the midfield. But the replacements kept the faith of their coach, Derrick Pereira, with a splendid display.
After a barren first session, the Lebanon outfit forged ahead when Ayoub Issam initiated a move from the left and sent a swerving cross across the Mahindra goal. Al Ahed's lanky striker Ali Mahumoud darted in from the right and with a firm header found the far corner of the net in the 51st minute.
But Mahindras were unruffled by that setback and fought back strongly to level the score when striker Surajit Bose headed home following a pass from substitute Subhas Chakraborthy in the 78th minute.
Two minutes later Chakrabothy, with another floater from the right, paved the way for David Adjei of Togo to head home from close and clinch a superb victory.
Al Nasr beat Dempo 1-0
Oman's Al Nasr maintained their unbeaten run in Group B when they got the better of Dempo by a solitary goal in a later match.
Mohammad Bait Shamiah scored the winner for Al Nasr, who qualified for the next round, in the 55th minute.
Al Nasr finished at the top of the table with 12 points from four victories.
Dempo, who lost their second match, have one point from three matches and need to win their last outing against Merv of Turkiministan to qualify for the quarter-finals as the second best team.