Tipu rescues Abahani

Arambagh's Russell (R) tries to keep possession against Zahid of Abahani during their Premier Bank Premier Football League clash at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday. PHOTO: STAR

A late equaliser by substitute striker Shahajuddin Tipu salvaged one point for Abahani who slumped to a 1-1 draw against Arambagh Krira Sangha in the Premier Bank Premier Football League at the Bangaban-dhu National Stadium yesterday.

Arambagh, who came to the third round match without a single point, were leading the first half 1-0 through a spectacular strike by Abu Morshed but could not sustain the lead under tremendous Sky Blues pressure.

Title contenders Abahani, who won both their earlier two games, must blame their forwards for wasting a series of chances and drop valuable points. Abahani could have gone ahead 12 minutes after the start but Farhad, set free by Cameroonian midfielder Ndem, took a feeble shot straight to Arambagh keeper Shakil inside from the box.

Arambagh went ahead in the very next minute on a counter-attack, utilising a misunderstanding between Abahani defender Shipon and custodian Nizam. Morshed intercepted Shipon's backheader toward an outrushing Nizam at the right side of the box and magnificently lobbed the ball into an open net with his left foot.

Abahani did not produce the polished passing game they had played in their 4-1 defeat of Dhaka Wanderers in the previous match but created enough chances to take full three points. But captain Joy's chip from the edge of the penalty area went out after kissing the crossbar three minutes later.

The Arambagh backline, which conceded six goals in two matches, looked much better with the arrival of Ghana's Charles Ghansah who was released by Muktijoddha for the league. And the tall centre-back, also an ex-Abahani player, pulled off a superb goalline save nine minutes from the short whistle when he blocked Ujjal's powerful shot from point blank range.

In the next two minutes, Abahani's foreign duo Ibrahim and Ndem both sliced through the rival defence but could not keep cool.

Arambagh, who fought bravely before losing 4-3 to Muktijoddha in the last round, came close to double the margin from an early second-half counter attack but Kenyan forward Dominic's close range shot was parried by Nizam on one-on-one.

Abahani piled on the pressure but Arambagh fullback Russell's double goalline saves denied Ibrahim and Ujjal just after the hour-mark.

Having been handcuffed for 78 minutes Abahani finally relieved their fans when Tipu -- tagged super-sub since his match winner against India in the SAF Games football semifinal in 1999 -- scored the equaliser following a combined move down the right.

Ibrahim raced into the rival box with a through from Zahed and the Ghanaian striker cut back a centre at the far post where Tipu, who replaced Farhad just four minutes earlier, effortlessly nodded home with his first touch of the ball.

Abahani, who take on arch-rivals Mohammedan in their next match, raised their collection to seven points compared to Arambagh's one after three outings.

Yellow cards: Ibrahim (Abahani) and Russell, Ritu, Jewel (Arambagh).

TEAMS
ABAHANI: Nizam, Obaidur, Shipon, Pradeep, Lajuk, Zahed, Joy, Ndem (Parvez), Ujjal, Ibrahim and Farhad (Tipu).

ARAMBAGH: Shakil, Dulal (Mahmud), Ramjan, Ghansah, Akram, Russell, Juku (Jewel), Imrul, Morshed (Ridon), Dominic and Ritu.

Referee: Tayab Hassan.