Abahani leave for Pyongyang with slender advantage
Six-time Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani were scheduled to depart for North Korea in the early hours of Sunday to play the away leg of their AFC Cup inter-zone semifinal play-offs against April 25 SC.
After an incredible 4-3 win over April 25 in the home game, Abahani need at least a draw on August 28 to advance to the inter-zone playoff final, an unprecedented step for a club from Bangladesh.
It will definitely not be an easy task for the Sky Blues -- especially on the fast-paced astro turf ground in Pyongyang -- but they will be bolstered by the fact that Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba, who scored a brace in the first match, and midfielder Mamunul Islam are traveling with the team.
Chizoba’s entrance to North Korea via China was thrown into uncertainty after difficulties obtaining a Chinese visa. He will now travel to North Korea via Thailand and China, said manager Satyajit Das Rupu, adding that they were also taking the injured Mamunul with hopes of fielding him if possible.
Getting the services of newly-signed Egyptian defender Alaaeldin Nasr Elmagraby Eissa, who missed the first leg due to suspension, is another boost.
“I think it is possible [to reach the inter-zone play-off final]. We know it is going to be very hard because April 25 will come back strong. We made some mistakes in the first game that we want to fix; we always have room to improve. It will be very important for us to score,” Abahani coach Mario Lemos told The Daily Star yesterday.
The Portuguese tactician’s charges played against April 25 on the counter-attack in the first match. And given that hosts April 25 are expected to play more aggressively given their need to score at home, Abahani will likely want to avail advantages on the counter like in the first game.
“The strategy will be similar, maybe more cautious and less risky because we have a slight advantage going into the match. We still believe we cannot just defend. We also need to be attack and create chances through the counter attack and hopefully get a goal. The attitude of the players must be the same. We are just one step away of the final,” the 33-year-old coach added.
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