Lee Tucks Abahani through; MSC out
Lee Andrew Tuck scored the quickest goal of the Walton Federation Cup to put Abahani into the quarterfinals after a single-goal win over Feni Soccer Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The English forward scored after just 45 seconds which proved decisive in the do-or-die affair of Group A as the Sky Blues set up a quarterfinal clash against Group C champions. The Group C champions will be decided between Sheikh Jamal DC and Brothers Union.
Abahani came into the match with their backs to the wall following a 0-1 defeat to Arambagh and they had no alternative but to beat Feni Soccer, who were looking for a draw to secure a place in the last eight.
Abahani's Austrian coach George Kottan backtracked from the plan of fielding three foreign forwards and strengthened the defence by drafting in long-serving Samad Yussif to the starting eleven. The move proved vital as the Sky Blues efficiently kept the opposition forwards at bay.
“There was an instruction to the players to press hard in the first 15 minutes to score as many goals as they could, but they looked relaxed once they took the lead. I am not satisfied with the way the players played throughout the game,” Kotton said after the match.
Abahani got off to a fine start as Sunday Chizoba played through Lee on the left flank and the Englishman darted into the box to finish off the move with a curling left-footed effort.
Sunday then squandered a gilt-edged chance by hitting wide of the target in the 18th minute while defender Tapu Barman saw his close-range header gathered comfortably by Feni Soccer goalkeeper Sujan Chowdhury.
Abahani upped the ante in the second half and created three good chances but Sujan easily thwarted the efforts from Nabib Newaz Jibon and Tuck while Faisal Mahmud's goal-bound shot was blocked by Uche Felix.
Feni Soccer were reduced to ten men on the hour-mark after defender Iftekharul Alam Shakil's dismissal and they also had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Jashimuddin in the 77th minute.
Meanwhile, there was a big upset later in the day as Team BJMC sent Mohammedan SC packing from the group stages with a 2-1 win, thanks to a brace from Mehdi Hasan Tapu, who scored a goal either side of Ahsanul Haq Milon's strike for Mohammedan.
The win saw Team BJMC through to the quarterfinals as Group D champions, with Rahmatganj MFS following them as runners-up.
Tapu broke the deadlock with a volley in the 33rd minute before a 45-yard stunner from Milon in the 66th minute got things back on level terms. But Tapu scored again eight minutes from time to ensure the elimination of the Black and Whites.