Al Hussien hat-trick spells Dempo exit

Dempo, without suspended defender Mahesh Gawli, were the second best team for most part of the pre-quarterfinal match at the Kuwait SC Stadium on Tuesday night.

Syrian international midfielder Jehad Al Hussien exposed the weakness of the Dempo back four with a hat-trick to take the former AFC Champions League side to the quarterfinals of the continent’s second tier club competition.

Al Hussien opened scoring from the spot in the 22nd minute before adding a second in the 58th. Dempo’s Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes Silva pulled one back in the 73rd minute but Al Hussien sealed victory with his hat-trick in the third minute of stoppage-time with another penalty.

The visiting side’s Nigerian striker Ranty Martins was shown the red card for protesting against the stoppage-time penalty as he had already received a yellow card in the 62nd minute.

Kuwait SC opened the scoring when they were rewarded a penalty after Dominic Noronha fouled Al Hussien inside the area and the Syrian international made no mistake from the spot. Kuwait SC doubled their lead just before the hour mark Al Hussien headed home Al Ateeqi’s corner.

Dempo pulled one back 17 minutes before regulation time as John Dias’ cross was connected by Da Silva’s first-time shot which beat Al Fadhli.