Dhaka Abahani Limited reached the finals of the Grameenphone Super Cup when they came from lagging behind twice to snatch the victory, eliminating Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra 5-4 in a tie-breaker in the second semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday. The two soccer powerhouses of the country produced two goals each during the match. Then they failed to break the deadlock in the extra 30 minutes session as a result the fate of the match was decided with a penalty shoot-out.
By virtue of Abahani’s victory, the moment of reinvention finally tickled of the Crore Taka Super Cup atmosphere as the country’s most two popular teams reached the final for the second successive time since 2009, the tournament being organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation.
Alamu Bokula and Zahed Pervej scored one each for Muktijoddha and Robin alone scored twice for Dhaka Abahani Limited to square the margin and headed the match to a pulsating end.
Samad Yousif, Abul Hossain, Cletus Blamo, Alfaz Ahmed and Shakhwat Rony scored for Abahani in the shootout while Paul Dammi, Nasiruddin, Arman Aziz and Alamu Bukola scored for Muktijoddha as Alamgir Kabir Rana missed, while his shot hit the cross piece after Abahani goalkeeper denied it with a right hand diving save and that made all the difference.
The match onset with Abahani threatened twice early inside six minutes and Awudu Ibrahim squandered two successive chances.
The first chance came to Ibrahim on the third minute to put Abahani into the lead but the Ghanaian playmaker failed to contact an Arup Baiddya’s right side cross being unmarked just on the penalty spot and three minute later his close range shot on a Linkon left side cross sailed over the cross bar.
Alamu Bokula electrified the atmosphere when he led Muktijoddha. Muktijoddha disposing of the initial pressure went on counter attack and Bokula smartly chased defenders Samad and Mamun Meah while the stoppers failed to prevent the Nigerian as he placed the ball into far post in 12th minute.
Abahani reacted strongly just four minutes later by producing a good chance but this time also Ibrahim failed net the ball when his close range shot on a Linkon cross was denied by Muktis’ goalkeeper Biplob. But just after another four minutes, Robin broke Abahani’s goal draught in the tournament. The young striker beat Biplob with a powerful right footer when his shot went into the post after confusing the keeper after hitting the side post (1-1).
The game, kicked off with both the teams playing head to head and dictating their powerful presence on the turf throughout the first 90 minutes. Despite putting up a good show the match remained one all till the first half. The pressure on Abahani was high as they gave their best to cope up to their opposition but the very third minute of the second half Muktijoddha got their second goal to lead 2-1 through Zahid Pervej volleyed on a running ball off Bukola cut back after chasing two defenders (2-1)on 48th.
Robin got back Abahani into the fight scoring a spectacular goal with a solo lead. At the midway of the second half, the moment of triumph came for the Abahani supporters as Robin cleanly netted the ball with a placing shot when he entered into the box after edging past the markers Mamun Meah and Samad Yusuf with a tremendous inside-outside dodge (2-2) and changed the complexion of the entire game.
In the rest of the scheduled 90 minutes duration both the teams enjoyed the possession of the ball almost evenly and none of them could not produce any certain chances.
After the (2-2) 90 minutes, the extra time was also almost a game that was restricted round the midfield and both sides looked very cautious about not to concede goal rather than to go for goal and the result was settled by penalty shoot-out.
At last a much expected and desired win after a long spell of disappointing draw throughout the tournament, Abahani snatched the show with a win by penalty shoot-out to set the final encounter against their arch rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club.
-With The Independent input
