Dhaka, Oct 30: Abahani Limited scored twice in the extra time to thump ten-men Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 5-3 after finishing the stipulated time 3-3 in the final of Grameenphone Federation Cup at the Birsreshtha Shahid Sipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Kamalapur today.
This way the three time’s professional league champions who played the final of Federation Cup a record fifteen times, regained the title after nine years. This is the eighth Federation Cup title win for them.
The match, which observed a total of eight goals was a exhibition of aggressive football, full of attacks and counter attacks. Both of the contenders tried for an early lead and started generating good attacks from the very beginning.
Sheikh Jamal’s strength was their young national team stars whereas Abahani’s foreign collection done the job for the sky-blues. Abahani’s Ghanaian long time serviceman Awudu Ibrahim scored three times while his compatriot Ntiny Frank and Yusuf Aminu scored one a piece to confirm the triumph. On the other hand young Bangladeshi international forward Enamul netted two of the three Sheikh Jamal goals and another national team representative Mamunul Islam scored the other.
Sheikh Jamal got the opportunity to score in the second minute while last season’s professional league top scorer Enamul’s shot from a set piece was very close to the post. Enamul’s striking partner Ameli jumped his highest to head the ball in but failed to connect.
Yusuf tried with a curling shot in the counter-attack but his attempt was punched away by Sheikh Jamal skipper custodian Aminul Haque.
Treble star Awudu snatched a ball from all yellow defender Waly Faisal inside the penalty area in the 24th minute but he drove wide of the post guarded only by Aminul.
Finaly, Enamul broke the deadlock with a fierce left footer from an Abdul Baten Komol pass inside the penalty zone in the 31st minute.
Awudu equalized in the next minute beating a lone Aminul in front of the post utilizing a Frank forward pass.
Enamul headed home an Ameli left flank cross three minutes after the breather to bring the lead back which was cancelled by Frank again in the following minute from a penalty kick. Referee Azad Rahman awarded the spot kick as Sheikh Jamal’s Nasir handled Abahani captain Pranotosh’s cross inside the penalty zone.
This time Abahani got the lead through Awudu’s boot. Awudu’s right foot low drive from edge of the box found the back of the net to make it 3-2.
Sheikh Jamal’s Mamun took the match to the extra time beating Abahani goalkeeper Ziaur with an spectacular aerial long ranger from just out of the penalty zone four minutes to the time.
The result could have been different had Shakil not fail to keep the ball on an empty post from close in the stoppage time.
Sheikh Jamal's catastrophe started with the departure of Rezaul in the 103rd minute because of two bookable offence.
The sky-blue midfielder Aminu’s weak grounder from a melee decided the fate of the match in the 112th minute. Aminul could only touch the ball with a diving effort but failed to change the course of the ball.
Awudu got his hat-trick in the 118th minute scoring from a substitute Shuvra free-cick.
“It’s a great feeling to be the champions. We have got a good coach and we won the match against an almost national side,” said an ecstatic Awudu.
Abahani manager Sattyajit Das Rupu said, “We played in the final in last two editions but it was our bad luck that we had to return bare handed. We conceded but immediately equalized which proves our scoring ability. I am very happy with my boys’ performance.”
Abahani's Ashraf Mahmud Linkon was declared the man of the final and Sheikh Jamal's Enamul was announced the player of the tournament.
| < Prev |
|---|