Citycell Super Cup
Abahani cruise
Ctg Mohammedan upset Russel
The inaugural Citycell Super Cup got off to an impressive start with B. League champions and title contenders Abahani crushing Rahmatganj 3-0 in the opening match yesterday.
However, there was drama in the end as Chittagong Mohammedan shocked B. League's third-placed side Sheikh Russel 2-0 in the night.
The 8,000-strong crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium was satisfactory in terms of the B. League turnout, which had been lower even during the big matches.
Abahani's Nigerian striker Emeka Christian began where he left off in the B. League, firing twice, while Shipon scored an own goal to extend miseries of the old-Dhaka outfit, featuring four foreign imports.
The 20-minute opening ceremony, including a show by the popular TV programme 'Khude Ganraj' songsters, was cancelled due to the National Mourning Day. A minute's silence was also observed after Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin and sponsor Citycell's CEO Michael Seymour declared the Tk 2-crore meet open.
The Sky Blues began in style with Emeka taking just 90 seconds to find the mark. Ghanaian forward Ibrahim played the ball across from the left for an unmarked Abul, who got inside the area and fired an angled drive that beat goalkeeper Ali for Emeka, raring at the far post, to stab home from handshaking distance.
Despite an early goal, Abahani did not look convincing throughout the rest of the half although Amalesh Sen's side created two chances.
However, Emeka's backvolley on a centre by Abul went over in the fourth minute and Abul, who got a free header after meeting a curling freekick by Mamun in the 20th minute, failed to keep his effort under the bar.
Rahmatganj, who had stunned Abahani 2-1 in the B. League opener also looked like losing their bite under new coach Mir Faruk, who took over from Golam Jilani, but came close in the fifth minute. A defensive lapse helped Nche Francis get possession 15 yards out of goal but Rahmatganj's Nigerian skipper fired over.
It could have been 1-1 three minutes before halftime when Abahani goalkeeper Biplab choked on a 30-yard pile driver from Kabir but B. League's prolific Ugandan striker Idris, who collected the rebound, placed the ball just over crossbar.
Rahmatganj dominated the first ten minutes after resumption and Francis beat Biplab with an angular shot that missed the far post after a move by Hanif and Idris.
However, Abahani took full control in the 58th minute when Rahmatganj defender Shipon headed the ball into his own post while trying to clear Abahani left fullback Waly Faisal's harmless chip.
There was no respite for Rahmatganj as their mighty rivals went on the full offensive. Ibrhaim set Emeka with a superb through but the Nigerian, who went round goalkeeper Ali, saw his weak placing shot kicked out from the goalline by Imrose on the hour.
An otherwise dull national striker Emily then fluffed his only chance of the day ten minutes later. He controlled a right-flank lob by overlapping skipper and makeshift fullback Nazrul but put the low drive just wide of Ali's far post.
Biplab then kept out a long-range effort by Felix at the other end for a corner before Abahani sealed the victory eight minutes from time. Emeka escaped down the right with Ibrahim's brilliant pass from the middle, went outside an onrushing Ali and coolly slotted home for his second goal.
In the second Group A match, Nasir put visiting Chittagong Mohammedan, who finished fifth in the B. League, ahead after 19 minutes. The guest striker from Bangladesh Army met a pass by fullback Khan Sharif to place home.
Like their opponents, Russel also had four foreigners but never looked a match for the port city side, who cemented three points in the 54th minute. This time, Guinean striker Raphael Sagno took the ball from captain Kaiser in the middle and drew two defenders and goalkeeper Azam to finish a sparkling solo.
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