Abahani, Rahmatganj head into Fed Cup final

Powerhouse Abahani Dhaka and lightweight Rahmatganj MFS secured Federation Cup final berth on a day of exciting semifinal action seen at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium on Thursday.

Abahani narrowly overcame title contenders Saif Sporting Club 4-3 in tiebreakers after regulation time ended in a 3-3 goalfest while Rahmatganj shocked 10-man Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-1 in the day's first semifinal match yesterday.

The Bashundhara Group Federation Cup final between Rahmatganj and Abahani will take place on Sunday, January 9 at the same venue from BST 05:00pm.  

- Thriller from the big shots -

Shahidul Alam Sohel was Abahani's hero as the goalkeeper stopped two shots from Saif's Mfon Sunday Udoh and Jamal Bhuiyan after the momentum of the match oscillated from one side to another during the 120-minute of play.

Despite the absence of in-form Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes, Abahani dominated the initial proceedings but Saif threatened to take the lead in the very fourth minute with Nigerian forward Mfon rattling the crossbar.

However Abahani drew first blood in the ninth minute with Raphael Augusto converting a penalty after Saif defender Manjurur Rahman Manik fouled Rakib Hossain. Rakib wreaked havoc from the wings and came close to scoring twice in the next seven minutes.

The charges of Diego Andres Cruciani regrouped to press for the equaliser and soon Mfon levelled the margin for Saif, sending a rebound home in the 20th minute.

Mario Lemos' men could have retained the lead in the 27th minute had goalkeeper Pappu Hossain not denied Nabib Newaj Jibon in a one-on-one situation. Paplu's counterpart Sohel denied Mfon, who could not capitalise on a big fumble from defender Tutul Hossain Badsha.

A section of the crowd at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday. Photo: BFF

After the resumption, the match tempo slowed down with both sides playing cautiously until the 72nd minute when Abahani's substitute left-back Monir Hossain committed an unforced error, fouling Sadman Hossain inside the box. Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbhbug made no mistake from the penalty shot to give Saif the lead.

Abahani then suffered another blow with their midfield nucleus Raphael Augusto leaving the field from injury, allowing Saif to be in control of the midfield. Saif were rewarded with another penalty in the 80th minute when substitute Jewel Rana tackled Mfon from behind.

Saif, however, could not kill the game off as two penalty shot attempts from Rwandan defender Emery were ruled out by referee Symoon Hasan due to violation of rules on both occasions.

With Saif nervously inching close to a back-to-back final of Federation Cup, Jewel and Daniel Colindres combined to level the margin three minutes into the stoppage time and forced the match into extra time.

Rakib, who had squandered a few opportunities in the regulation time, finally redeemed himself in the 94th minute to make the scoreline 3-2 in Abahani's favour. Goalkeeper Sohel Rana then made a couple of good saves and preserved the lead for a while.

And with the clock ticking towards the end of the second-half extra time, Saif's substitute Sajjad Hossain volleyed a Mfon cross and forced the match into the climax of tiebreakers.

- Mohammedan heavily pay for missed opportunities -

Back to the first match of the day, Mohammedan dominated the first half after taking an early lead in the fifth minute, courtesy of a Razib Hossain tap in after Australian Aaron Reardon headed down an Alamgir Mollah corner from inside the six-yard box.  

The Black and Whites kept pressing Rahmatganj and came close to doubling the lead twice, first in the 22nd minute and then the 40th, but on both occasions Shahed Mia squandered the chance with only goalkeeper Rakib Hasan to beat.

Photo: BFF

After resumption, Mohammedan kept their tempo but it all went downhill for the Motijheel-based club from the 67th minute onwards when Macedonian defender Jasmin Mecinnovikj received his second caution of the match.

It did not take long for Rahmatganj to equalise as Ghanaian forward Philip Adjah capitalised a through ball from Ashraful Islam in the 78th minute before Sunday Chizoba hit the target in the stoppage time to send the Old Dhaka outfit into raptures.