Local giant Abahani Limited were held to a goalless draw by unfancied Feni Soccer Club in the Bangladesh Premier Football League on Thursday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Ali Akbar’s charges wasted a series of chances against Soccer Club and both the sides had to be content with a point from their second game. Abahani now have four points while Soccer Club registered their first point of the campaign.
Abahani’s former national right-back Nasirul Islam made a comeback to the club scene after an 18-month absence owing to a knee injury but he could not cap it off with a win.
The Sky Blues will be more disappointed among the two sides as Ghanaian hitman Osei Morison and his fellow countryman Awudu Ibrahim squandered a number of gilt-edged opportunities.
Soccer Club on the other hand will be happy with the point as their defenders were successful in thwarting the Abahani attackers.
Abahani received their first meaningful opening in the 23rd minute but Morison volleyed the ball over from the middle of the box after an Ibrahim cross from the right flank.
Morison missed yet another chance two minutes later as he narrowly failed to hit the target from outside the box after being fed with a cross from Shariful.
In the 33rd minute, Shariful produced another precise cross from the right flank but an unmarked Towhidul Alam headed wide.
Two more clear-cut chances arrived in the second half for Abahani but on both occasions, Ibrahim’s efforts were off the target.
Soccer Club were satisfied playing on the counter and missed a golden chance to take a shocking lead when a clumsy clearance by an Abahani defender fell at the feet of Ahmed Samson but Samson fired the ball over the post.
Abahani’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar vented his anger after the end of the game, criticising Soccer Club’s counter-attacking approach.
‘When the opposition play for a draw then it is tough to score. [Soccer Club] played negative football,’ said Akbar adding that, ‘if you play that kind of football you never develop your game.’
On the contrary Soccer Club’s Gambian coach Omar Cisse expressed his satisfaction and said that his unit executed his plan perfectly.
‘I knew about Abahani’s strengths and I chalked out my plan keeping in mind the opponent’s strength. I am happy because my tactics worked in the match and I’m happy with the result,’ said Omar.
In today’s fixture, Muktijoddha Sangsad will go up against Team BJMC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
-With New Age input
