Abahani Limited’s poor form in the Independence Cup continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Rahmatganj MFS in their penultimate Group B match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday. It was the third draw for the Sky Blue outfits under their new Croatian coach Drago Mamic in four matches which left them in a tricky situation to qualify for the semi-finals.
With Wednesday’s draw, Abahani have earned six points to be placed third in the points table behind Skeikh Russell Krira Chakra and Team BJMC, who have 10 and seven points respectively.
That means Abahani must have to earn at least a point from their last match which can put them in the last four with a better goal difference.
Mamic started with former Arsenal and Spurs midfielder Rohan Ricketts in place of their regular campaigner Lee Tuck of England, who was suspended from the game following his red card in the last match.
Ricketts took only two minutes to prove his quality when the midfielder fired a volley from the top of the box that hit the side post.
Abahani keeper Sultan Ahmed Shakil made a brilliant save just a minute later to deny Congolese forward Siyo Zunapio’s close-range effort following a through pass from Nurul Absar.
Ricketts opened his account in Bangladesh in the seventh minute when the English attacking midfielder took the control of a pass from Senegalese partner Camara Sarba before coolly placing the ball into the far post.
Zunapiyo levelled the margin in the 38th minute as the forward out-muscled his marker to head home a high cross of Faysal Ahmed.
Abahani could restore the lead in the eight minute into the second half but Jewel Rana saw his attempt was denied by Rahmatganj defender Alauddin from the goal-line.
Nurul Absar stunned the Sky Blues in the 71st minute receiving a long ball from Faysal Ahmed, showing great skill and technique to chip the ball over Shakil from inside the box to give Rahmatganj a surprising lead.
Camara Sarba rescued Abahani from a fumble in the 85th minute placing home in a rebound after Nigerian Sunday Chizoba’s shot was blocked.
RESULT
Abahani Limited 2 (Rohan 7, Sarba 85) v Rahmatganj MFS (Zunapio 38,
Absar 71)
-With New Age input
