Dhaka Abahani survived a scare before securing an 1-1 draw against new powerhouse Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in a group A match of the Grameenphone Federation Cup at the Kamalapur Stadium on Monday.
Ace forward Enamul put Sheikh Jamal ahead in the 57th minute but Twum Frank levelled the scoreline from a penalty in the 80th minute.
Sheikh Jamal went into attack from the start with forwards Enamul and Emily creating pressure on the Abahani defence. Abahani’ s Ghanaian attacking duo of Awudu Ibrahim and Twum Frank found little space in the Jamal territory. Serbian Dragan Perisic, the stocky Jamal defender, stood strong against the Abahani attacks.
Jamal midfielder Zahid Hossain broke down the Abahani defence after a neat lob from Emily and found Abahani keeper Zia alone under the bar in the 11th minute, but Zahid’s sluggish approach enabled Abahani’s Ghanaian defender Samad Yousiff to snatch the ball off his feet.
Abahani came close to a strike in the stoppage time of the first half when Twum Frank’s scorcher from an Awudu Ibrahim square pass went inches wide of the side post.
Both the teams carried out a number of attacks after the break before Enamul put Jamal ahead heading home a Shakil corner from the right flank.
Abahani pressed hard in search of the equaliser and luck favoured them as Perisic left the field with a thigh strain. Twum Frank restored parity in the 80th minute when he was brought down by defender Reza while trying to control an Awudu header and he sent Aminul the wrong way from the resulting penalty.
Twum Frank sent a chill through the Jamal spine five minutes later as he dashed down the left flank with an Abul long ball but blasted it wide.
Russell v Jamal
Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra stumbled to a goalless draw on the birthday of Sheikh Russell against Rahmatganj MFS in a second round match of the Grameenphone Federation Cup at the Kamalapur stadium on Monday.
Sheikh Russell dominated the first half but paid the price for missing the opportunities. Rahmatganj were busy saving their fort with a defensive strategy.
Russell midfielder Manik hit the crosspiece with a fierce volley in the 59th minute while Paul MacJames, the Nigerian forward of Rahmatganj, failed to score in the 83rd minute with Russell goalkeeper Al-Amin at his mercy.
Sheikh Russell officials later distributed 46 footballs marking the 46th birthday of Sheikh Russell, the youngest son of late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of the country.
