A late winner by Haitian international Kervens Belfort guided premier league champions Abahani to the semifinals of the Independence Cup after edging past Saif Sporting Club 1-0 in the third quarterfinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.
The Federation Cup champions will now face the winner of the Friday’s last quarterfinal between Bashundhara Kings and Rahmatganj MFS in the second semifinal on December 20.
Abahani controlled the game more after the goalless opening half and created more chances but they had to wait till 81 minutes to break the deadlock, thanks to Belfort’s opportunistic touch to get his third goal in Sky Blues’ jersey.
Belfort initiated the attack for the goal as the Haitian passed the ball left to Sohel Rana before running inside the box. Sohel’s cross from the left flank met Sunday Chizoba at the edge of six-yard box but the Saif keeper failed to grip the Nigerian’s header on the goal-line and Belfort was there to tap home from a yard away.
Titu: We have to snap out of goal drought https://t.co/LNW5LSncDf#SheikhRusselKriraChakra’s lack of a finishing touch up front has become a common scene this season, which resulted in them finishing the group stage without scoring a single #goal, while also conceding none.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 12, 2018
Both the sides made a couple of changes each in their starting eleven with Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam and winger Rubel Miah replacing Jewel Rana and Sultan Ahmed Shakil while Saif’s defending duo Rahmat Mia and Asaduzzaman Bablu replaced Shahedul Alam Shahed and Yeasin Arafat.
Atiqur Rahman Fahad continued to be sidelined due to injury as Pranatash started again in the holding midfield. It was Pranatash’s back-header in a free-kick of Korean midfielder Minhyeok Ko that created the game’s first chance but the effort flew over the bar.
Sunday exhibited fine skill while attempting a volley from the left side of the box that went straight to the keeper in the 33rd minute. Moments later from a counter attack, Korean Seungil Park fed the ball onto the path of Jafar Iqbal who failed to connect from two yards away.
Saif made a few notable runs in the opponent’s terrain soon after resumption but Park’s first effort from the left side of the box went over before the Korean’s powerful strike from 20 yards at the hour-mark was punched away by Sohel.
Four minutes later, Belfort’s close-range header in a Waly Faisal free-kick from the right side was blocked by the Saif keeper before Sunday’s effort on rebound also halted by the defence.
The appeal committee of the BFF has reduced the suspension of Bashundhara Kings duo Sushanta Tripura and Tawhidul Alam Sabuj and Abahani Limited defender Mamun Miah through a meeting at BFF House in Dhaka Wednesday.https://t.co/Z15l9iSM7t#BFF #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 12, 2018
Abahani’s newly appointed head coach Mario Lemos was a happy man after the final whistle as the Portuguese coach termed the win coming through a tough encounter.
“I’m satisfied. It was a tough game. Saif is very well organized and well coached. They are very dangerous on counter attacks. We suffered a little but we had the composure and enough energy to win the game.”
He also said, “I didn’t get enough time since my arrival but I think they will get even better the more I work with the players.”
Saif’s Irish coach Johnathan McKinstry seemed content with his team’s performance and looked forward to starting the league in the same manner next month.
RESULT
Abahani 1(Belfort 81’) SAIF Sporting Club 0
Friday’s Match
Bashundhara Kings v Rahmatganj