AMMAN: Reigning AFC Cup champions Al Faisaly took a significant step towards retaining the title with three unanswered goals in the second half of the first leg of the 2006 AFC Cup final against Bahrain's Al Muharraq on Friday.

After a scoreless first half, the Jordanians opened the scoring nine minutes into the second period through Abdulhadi Al Maharmeh's header before Hussein Odtallah doubled the advantage direct from a corner on the hour mark.

Al Maharmeh then sealed the win with his second of the evening with only seven minutes left on the clock to give his side the upper hand before next week's second leg in Manama.

Al Faisaly went into the game without key duo Khaled Saed and Moayad Salim and their absence told as they failed to match Muharraq throughout the first half.

Muharraq, who were missing Ibrahim Al Mishkhas and Mahmoud Abdulrahman through suspension, went in search of an early goal but, despite creating several scoring chances, the first half finished scoreless.

The Bahraini champions had their first opportunity after just seven minutes when Brazilian striker Leandson Dias saw his shot from inside the area fly just past the right post of Al Faisaly goalkeeper Loai Al Amaireh.

The next chance came in the 20th minute when Nigerian striker Jaycee John fired off a first time volley but Al Amaireh was well positioned to claim the ball.

The Bahrainis continued to look the more likely team to score and they should have gone in front with four minutes remaining in the half after Leandson Dias sent over a cross from the right flank only for Abdullah Omar's shot to find the side netting.

In the second period, Al Faisaly turned the tables on their visitors and, just nine minutes after the restart, they took the lead when Al Maharmeh sent his looping header beyond the reach of Muharraq goalkeeper Ali Hassan.

The goal sent the huge crowd inside the Amman International Stadium into raptures and there was further delight for the home fans in the 60th minute when Al Faisaly doubled their advantage as Odtallah curled his corner directly into the goal.

With his side two goals down, coach Carlos Elinho tried to haul Muharraq back into the match but they were denied by an impressive save from Al Amaireh in the Al Faisaly goal, who used his legs to preserve his clean sheet in the 75th minute when Omar shot from close range.

Seven minutes from time, Al Faisaly increased their stranglehold on the final when Moayad Abukeshek's good work on the right flank set up Al Maharmeh, who beat Muharraq defender Jassim Al Chuban to the ball before scoring his second and his side's third of the evening.

Muharraq thought that they had pulled a goal back three minutes later when John put the ball in the net following Abdullah Al Dakeel's corner, but Syrian referee Mohammed Kousa ruled the ball had gone out of play to allow Al Faisaly to take a three-goal lead into the second leg.

Al Faisaly coach Adnan Hamad was delighted with his team's second half performance. "Our display in the second half steered us to this victory. We had a good performance in the first period despite Muharraq dominating the proceedings but our players needed some time to get into the match, especially with the absence of Khaled Saed and Moayad Salim.

"However, in the second period things were different and the players went onto the pitch with a new mentality. We created several chances and scored three goals.

"We still haven't won the title as there is still a second leg and we should give our best to retain our title."

While Muharraq coach Carlos Elinho refused to throw in the towel despite the big lose. "In the first half things were equal and we had a lot of chances. If we could have scored from these chances, the final result would have been different.

"The weather conditions changed in the second period and the rain affected the players who didn't have a good performance.

"We made some defensive mistakes which gave Al Faisaly their three goals. However, since they scored three goals at home, we can do the same thing on our home pitch and we'll try to exert all the effort to win the title."