Dhaka Abahani sneak past Sheikh Russel
Sheikh Russel looked formidable since the moment they came to field but the table was turned on them quickly by Abahani international Emeka Darlington after being handed a yellow card just moments before.
The 210th goal of the league was scored by the Nigerian international Emeka as he provided the thrust for Abahani with the lead of 1-0. He broke the stale mate with the help of a beautiful cross by Wali Faisal.
The all-important goal by the former Shiekh Jamal forward Emeka was scored on the 3rd minute of the match. This goal took his tally of goal to 6. Sheikh Russel forward repeatedly tried to impregnate the goal post of Abahani but without much success.
Russel defenders were also kept by the Abahani forwards. On the 40th minute Abahani forward Rubel Mia placed a potentially lethal cross very close to the Russel D-box which was masterfully deflected by Russel defender Monaem Khan Raju. Moments later, Sheikh Russel goalie pulled off a stunner by saving a speeding header from Emeka. Following a corner kick by Abahani forward Wali Faisal, Emeka headed the ball from a close proximity to the bars but was denied a goal by a valiant effort by the Russel goalie.
First half of the match ended with Abahani leading with the lone goal scored by the star of the match Emeka Darlington. It was interesting to observe that neither of the teams substituted any players. The reason for the strategy was later uncovered in the second half of the match as the game got intense the coaches looked to utilise fresh players at the absolute end of the match.
Sheikh Russel started the second half with apparent determination to level the scoreline. In the 45th minute Russel attack tried to devise a strategy to score their first one as they went on the attack with the right wing.
Russel midfielder Fazle Rabbi went on the offence and managed to pass the ball to Zaki Sahran in the danger-zone who later lost the control of the ball.
Russel forward Mahbub Hasan Noyon broke through the Abahani defence on 63rd minute courtesy of an excellent forward pass by Russel international Jacques Francois. Abahani were saved of imminent danger by experienced defender Samad Yousuf.
The heat of the match increased in the last 10 minutes of the regulation time as Russel midfielder Noyon went on repeated attacks. Amid such intensity Noyon tacked Abahani defender Imon Mahmud Babu which resulted in some exchange of heated words.
Though 4 minutes were added to the regulation time, the play went up to six minutes. The match ended with the score line of 1-0.
With this win, Dhaka Abahani Ltd are now comfortably seated at the second spot of the league table behind only Chittagong Abahani Ltd due to goal difference ration of 25:11 and 25:4 respectively as both the teams are tied with 36 points each.
