Abahani hit the one crore taka jackpot when they beat bitter rivals Mohammedan 3-2 in the tiebreaker of the Grameenphone Super Cup final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Abahani goalkeeper Sohel stood tall in the shootout, making two brilliant saves as the popular Dhanmondi outfit snatched the country's most lucrative tournament from the Black and Whites, who surrendered a 2-0 lead in the regulation 90 minutes.
The high-voltage drama that attracted a 15,000 strong crowd rolled into the tie-breaker after the 30-minute extra-time failed to break a 2-2 deadlock.
Nigerian striker Sunday, who scored Mohammedan's first goal in the match by heading home a low cross, also gave his side a perfect start in the shootout. But Abahani, arguably the better of the two sides, forced their way back from the brink with their tall custodian Sohel saving the third and the decisive fifth spot kick, parrying off a low Bayeback shot diving to his right.
He then ran towards the touchline at the western end where the Sky Blue supporters greeted him with a deafening roar, leaving the other half stunned in silence.
It was Abahani's second silverware this season while Mohammedan, who won the inaugural edition of Super Cup two years back, finished a forgettable season with no trophy to show for their efforts.
Back in the match, Towhid gave Mohammedan a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute. But Abahani's Ghanaian striker Twum Frank restored parity, hitting the back of the net twice, first in the in the 35th minute and then in the 75th minute against a 10-man Mohammedan.
Mohammedan were down to ten men in the 40th minute when their temperamental goalkeeper Al Hasan received the dreaded red card for grounding Frank with a punch on the face.