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Mohammedan win Federation Cup title


Published : 30 May 2023 10:38 PM

Mohammedan won the title of Federation Cup Football after a prolong fourteen year beating their arch-rival Abahani by 4-2 goals in penalty shoot-out in  the nerve-racking final held on Tuesday at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta  Stadium in Cumilla.

The match rolled into a tie breaker after the regulation and extra time ended 

4-4 draw. In the shootout, Mohammedan missed one out of five shots while Abahani missed two of their first four shots. 

Thanks to Mohammedan captain SouleymaneDiabate, who led Mohammedan from the front, with his hat-trick that helped Mohammedan to end their title  drought since after winning the Independence Cup title in 2014.

It was a remarkable comeback by the Black and Whites, who overturned deficits for three times courtesy of SoleymaneDiabate when their captain led from front scoring all four goals.   

Mohammedan paid a magnificent tribute to their new coaching staff and the football committee with a memorable display in Cumilla.

Everything of the initial stage of the match  was against the Mitijheel outfit after goals from Fahim and Colindres in the first half, but the Black and Whites once again showed that they can overcome all adversity and went in at 60th minute with the game all square after a brace from  Diabate. The second 

half was nothing short of spectacular and Alfaz Ahmed’s men completed the comeback with 4-4 with another couple of goals ffromDiabate when Fahim and Rahmat Mea scored for Abahani.

Abahani made a high tempo start to the contest. Their approach reaped rewards when Fahim’s goal from Emeka's assist in the 16th minute paid dividends opened the scoring. Two minute before to go for break, the Costa Rican Worl Cuppers Daniel Colindres made it 2-0 when he pounced on a poor save of Rahmat effort by MSC keeper Sujon. 

The tie seemed like an uphill struggle for Mohammedan after just the first 45 minutes encounter. But the traditional giants held their nerve, Soleymane scored two back to back goal with reducing the lead with a terrific finish from Soleymane 56tm minute 1-2.    

The Nigerian collected the ball on the edge of the box and rifled the ball through the narrowest of gaps between two defenders and past ShahidulAlamSohel into the top corner.  

Soleymaneequalised the margin right on 60th minute and this time Sohel could not sve along shot from Alamguir Rana Soleymane  was very much sharp to received and shot the past the keeper inatwinckle of an eye (2-2).

Abahani Limited responded six minutes minutes later through Fahim made an excellent finish after a series a rebounds Emeka effort to regain  the lead (3-2). 

SoleymaneDiabate, who took centre stage of the match, again struck back to back to lead Mohammedan when he again equalised the margin on 83rd minute on apin-ponted corner from Royal (3-3) to lock the 90 minute game on 3-3.

In the extra 30 minute hour Mohammedan blew first blood to with Diabate converting a penalty and this time Abahani keeper Sohel failing to control the ball made a foul and referee directed for spot kink (4-3).

When it looked Mohammedan is heading to Mohammedan’s way, the match got the superb excitement when Abahani made the tally 4-4 with RahmatMeah scored the equaliser with notching his right footer from the top of the penalty-arch just two minutes to the final whistle (4-4) .

In the tie-breaker, Diabate, Alamgir Rana, Roger and Kamrul scored for Mohammedan. But only Emanuel Emeka and Yousef could  mark the target for Abahani and substitute goal;keeper denied the efforts of Raphael Augosto, and Colindres.