It’s not often that a Bangladeshi player gets rewarded for scoring a beautiful goal.
Mamunul Islam broke the jinx as the Abahani Limited midfielder was adjudged the winner of this week’s Goal of the Week, presented by Allianz for the 2019 AFC Cup, after a public vote on the AFC’s official website.
Mamunul scored a stunning goal in Abahani’s fifth AFC Cup group round match against Nepal champion Manang Marshyangdi Club Wednesday where the Bangladesh giant won 5-0.
Following a backpass from Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba, Mamunul unleashed a powerful left-footer from 20 yards out that hit the net through the right edge.
Mamunul’s goal voted #afccup2019 Goal of the Weekhttps://t.co/zRGEQeEpCi
— BFF (@bff_football) June 21, 2019
Mamunul accumulated 52% of the votes whereas his nearest competitor Mohammed Al Wakid managed 46%. pic.twitter.com/s2gynxkb1h
It was the fifth and last goal of the game.
Mamunul’s goal earned 7,997 votes out of 15,520 and beat Syrian club Al-Jaish forward Mohammed Al Wakid’s goal (7,190 votes) from halfway against Al Jazeera. Indian League champion Minerva Punjab’s Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Tajik league runners-up FC Khujand’s Dilshod Vasiev’s goals.
Scoring such a long ranger however, was not the first time for Mamunul, both in the domestic league and AFC Cup this season.
The 30-year-old’s 88th-minute screamer earned Abahani a crucial 3-2 win over ISL champion Chennaiyin FC in the same competition last month.
Not only being at the top of Group E in the @theafcdotcom Cup 2019 but also the way Abahani Limited thrashed their opponent 5-0 in their last game brought great joy, ecstasy and hope in the country’s morbid football scene.https://t.co/7oiCItVd38#AFC #AFCCUP #CUP #ABAHANI
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) June 20, 2019
“I really worked hard in the last few months to get back my old form. It’s good to score two goals in international competition and the better feeling is that we also won the games. It’s an honor to win Goal of the Week award. I want to keep the form for the rest of the season,” said Mamunul to Dhaka Tribune.