Rare goals lift Abahani
Abahani striker Emily (R) congratulates fellow midfielder Pranotosh Kumar who celebrates his equaliser against Farashganj in the first semifinal of the Citycell Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR
Irregular goal scorers Pranotosh Kumar and Waly Faisal fired seven-time champions Abahani into the final of the Federation Cup after six years with a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Farashganj yesterday.
More than 5,000 loyal sky-blues fans, who braved incessant drizzle throughout the game to watch the first semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, were silenced by a second minute strike from Farashganj midfielder Khokon Das.
Abahani, donning their second choice golden strip for the second consecutive match, levelled before the break through Pranotosh's second goal for the club in as many years.
It was then Waly's turn in the second half to propel the side into their first final of the competition after 2000 with his first ever goal in an Abahani shirt in four seasons.
Farashganj, who came to the match on the back of an all-win record and without conceding a single goal, survived a rival attack in the very first minute when assistant referee Shahidul Islam Lalu wrongly judged Abahani's Ghanaian forward Ibrahim offside.
A counter attack put Kamal Babu's Farashganj in front within seconds as stand-in Abahani captain and goalkeeper Biplab rushed out of his area to kick out a long ball.
On an almost unplayable pitch, the ball travelled shorter than Biplab had wished and midfielder Khokon Das drove a first-time right footer from 40 yards that brushed the recovering goalie's outstretched hand before slamming into the back of the net.
Undaunted by the stunning strike, the local giants put tremendous pressure on the Farashganj goal and the robust Ibrahim set a chance for Abul, who was denied off a shot at goal by Rajib's inspired defending inside the box in the tenth minute.
The next three minutes produced four corners for Abahani but the pressure finally told in the 26th minute.
It was man-of-the-match Samad Yussif, the Ghanaian centre-back who also had a hand in initiating Abahani's second goal, whose darting run unsettled the opposition backline. Yussif exchanged a nice pass with compatriot Ibrahim on way to the right side of the penalty area and cut back a low cross for Pranotosh to pounce in from handshaking distance.
Joy headed a centre by Zahed Parvez just over and took a very weak shot straight to Farashganj custodian Al Amin after Ibrahim's hard work in the last five minutes of the first half, indicating his discomfort.
The injured holding midfielder was replaced at the break with defender Pradeep as Amalesh Sen -- missing the services of defender Nazrul and midfielder Mamun through suspension and attacker Ujjal due to lack of fitness -- switched to 3-5-2. But Joy's absence was heavily felt early after resumption when Farashganj came close to regain lead.
Biplab spilled a cross by Kabir three minutes into the second session but fortunately, Yusuf blasted the chance over the open net.
Five-goal striker Enamul, who had scored in every match for Farashganj in the competition, then put the ball just wide from a tight angle four minutes later.
Pradeep fluffed a chance soon but it was sweeper Yussif's second solo run from their own half that put the B. League champions ahead.
The Ghanaian released the ball to fellow centre-back Sujan, as good as the previous match after a long lay off due to injury, who sent a brilliant diagonal pass to the left where overlapping fullback Waly was totally unmarked to put a low left-footer on the trot into the far corner.
Abahani should have left the field with more goals but Ibrahim's twin effort was denied by the defensive wall inside from the six-yard box while Zahed's header on a rebound off his own shot was cleared from the goalline by veteran stopper Faisal.
On the other hand, Farashganj were lucky to have finished the game with all 11 players as referee Abdul Hannan Miron failed to show the riversiders' central defender Mamun Miah a second yellow card in the first half for committing a professional foul on Zahed, who had a free run at the left flank.
Mamun later escaped with a few more similar attempts while Miron also overlooked when Farashganj substitute Mohammed Mamun punched Abahani fullback Siraji on the face before giving Al Amin just a yellow when the keeper should have had a red for tripping Emily outside the box as the last man.
Yellow cards: Al Amin, Mamun Miah (Farashganj)
TEAMS
ABAHANI: Biplab, Siraji, Yussif, Sujan, Waly, Zahed, Pranotosh, Joy (Pradeep, 46th), Abul, Ibrahim (Tipu, 85th) and Emily.
FARASHGANJ: Al Amin, Rajib, Mamun Miah, Faisal, Ramjan (Rintu, 72nd), Rasel, Kabir, Khokon, Khalil (Chanchal, 88th), Enamul and Yusuf (Mohammed Mamun, 64th).
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