Photo : UNB
Coming from 0-2 goals behind, Dhaka Mohammedan SC clinched the Federation Cup Football title after 14 years by beating their old rivals Dhaka Abahani Limited by 4-2 goals in a tie-breaker at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Tuesday (30 May) afternoon.
The keenly contested marathon final between two traditional rivals was locked at 3-3 goals in the stipulated 90-minute and locked in 4-4 goals after the 30-minute extra session.
Mohammedan's captain cum Mali striker Souleymane Diabate made a hattrick scoring all four goals for the black and whites Mohammedan while Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Daniel Colindres, Emeka, and Rahmat Mia scored one goal each for the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani.
Later, Souleymane Diabate was adjudged the best player, the highest scorer of the tournament, and also the best player of the final.
With the day's feat, Dhaka Mohammedan SC Limited not only clinched their 11th Federation Cup Football title beating Dhaka Abahani Ltd in the final again in tie breaker after 2009 but also earned the right to play in the qualifying round of the AFC Cup Football.
Apart from match hero Souleymane Diabate, Mohammedan regular custodian Sujon Hossain and substitute goalie Ahsan Habib played a vital role in Mohammedan's victory with some brilliant saves.
Sujon Hossain displayed his brilliance under the bar foiling a good number of Abahani attempts one after another while substitute Ahsan Habib made an easy passage for Mohammedan victory saving two spot kicks in the breaker.
The Titans' battle in the last BPL match ended in a one-all draw at the same venue in Cumilla last Friday.
In the day's much-talked-about final, the 21-year-old local forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim put the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 17th minute by a cool placing shot, capitalizing on a good pass of Nigerian booter Emeka Ogbugh (1-0).
Russian World Cup playing Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres scored the 2nd goal for Abahani Limited in style by a brilliant shot from difficult angle beating opponent defender Hasan Murad in the 44th minute (2-0).
After conceding the two goals in the first half, Mohammedan SC reorganized themselves in the 2nd half and Souleymane Diabate leveled the margin scoring two quick goals in the 56th and 61st minutes (2-2).
Nigerian booter Emeka again put Abahani ahead in the 66th minute (3-2) while the day's playmaker Souleymane Diabate again neutralized the match making a hattrick in the 83rd minute (3-3).
Souleymane put Mohammedan ahead from behind in the 1O5+1 minute from a penalty (4-3). while Rahmat Mia again turned the match into an exciting one scoring the 4th goal for Abahani 118th minute (4-4) which lead the match towards tie breaker.
In the tiebreaker, Souleymane, Alamgir Kabir, Roger, and Kamrul converted spot kicks correctly while another attempt by Emon was saved by Abahani custodian Sohel.
On the other hand, Mohammedan's substitute goalie Ahsan Habib Bipu foiled attempts of Colindres and Brazilian Rafayel while Nigerian Emeka and Syrian booter Yousef scored from spot kicks.
Defending champions Dhaka Abahani Limited smartly reached the final of the Federation Cup Football' 2023 eliminating Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra by 3-0 goals in the 2nd semifinal
The traditional black and whites Mohammedan SC, a middle-rated team in the season, managed a final berth after 14 years eliminating the last four times BPL champions Bashundhara Kings by 2-1 goals in the first semifinal.
TDM/SNE
