Abahani Limited broke their four-year long trophy drought when they beat Arambagh Krira Sangha 1-0 in the Federation Cup final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.
\nEnglish playmaker Lee Andrew Tuck\u2019s 11th minute strike proved decisive as the traditional Sky-Blue outfits lifted their ninth Federation Cup title while tournament\u2019s giant killers Arambagh had to remain satisfied with another runners-up trophy.
\nAbahani\u2019s last silverware came in 2012 when they won the Premier League title.
\nArambagh reached the final for the third time after 1997 and 2001 but left the field empty handed on all three occasions.
\nAbahani\u2019s Austrian Kottan was ecstatic after guiding the side for the second title during his tenure as coach of the Dhanmondi-based outfits.
\n\u2018It\u2019s a wonderful feeling,\u2019 said Kottan.
\n\u2018It is the second time in my life players throw me high at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. I am very happy for the guys. After 10 years I think I become the champions.
\n\u2018Most important thing is we controlled the game. We got 2-3 chances and we should have won by 3-1.\u2019
\nKottan brought two changes in his starting line-up for the final from the squad beat Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra in the semi-final.
\nLee Tuck, who missed the semi-final through injury, retained his place for Shahedul Alam while forward Nabib Newaz Jiban returned to the starting XI replacing Senegalese forward Camara Sarba.
\nThe players struggled to display their natural performance under the blazing heat of the afternoon as the match kicked-off at 3:30pm local time.
\nHowever, Abahani were the better of the two sides from the beginning and got an early lead.
\nTheir first real chance came just seven minutes into the clock when Nigerian marksman Sunday Chizoba saw his initial effort was brilliantly blocked by Arambagh keeper Mitul Hasan.
\nMitul made another superb save to deny Jewer Rana\u2019s headed on the rebound moments later.
\nLee put Abahani ahead just four minutes later as his left-footed drive from the edge of the box following a neat through from Jiban found the back of the net.
\nAfter the resumption, Arambagh tried their best to come back in the game as they did twice in the quarter-final and semi-final against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Team BJMC.
\nBut this time they failed to repeat those feats due to lack of quality finishing.
\nArambagh winger Jafar Iqbal broke into the left of the penalty area in the 51st minute and took a powerful shot but his effort was punched away by Abahani keeper Shahidul Alam Sohel.
\nCameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick wasted a great chance to make the things level in the 56th minute when he made a fine build-up with Nigerian Kester Akon but saw his shot was blocked by Abahani defender Waly Faisal.<\/p>\n

-With New Age<\/strong> input<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Abahani Limited broke their four-year long trophy drought when they beat Arambagh Krira Sangha 1-0 in the Federation Cup final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday. English playmaker Lee Andrew Tuck\u2019s 11th minute strike proved decisive as the traditional Sky-Blue outfits lifted their ninth Federation Cup title while tournament\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n