A misfiring Abahani Limited side were held to a goalless draw by Soccer Club Feni in their second Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Sacking Australian coach Nathan Hall before the Federation Cup and then reappointing Iranian coach Ali Akbar Parmoslemi just five days before the league kicked off did not change Abahani’s fortune as their midfield was disorganized and the attacking line were ineffective.
Soccer Club might have claimed that the pressure they put on their opponents forced the Sky Blues not to have enough shots on target, but it was noticeable that the Abahani forwards fell flat in front of the Feni defence. Osei Morrison, the Ghanaian striker who was the top scorer in last season’s Bangladesh Premier League, missed three chances, while Awudu Ibrahim and Towhidul Alam missed one each as well.
Abahani right-back Nasirul Islam Nasir returned to the squad after 19 months in place of the injured Atiqur Rahman Meshu. Ali Akbar made two more changes in his squad -bringing in veteran Awudu Ibrahim and Shahedul Alam Shahed in place of De Souza and Arman Aziz respectively.
The Sky Blues had to toil hard to initiate their first attack, which came in the 23rd minute but Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison spoiled it by volleying the ball over the bar from the middle of the box after an Awudu Ibrahim cross from the right flank. Two minutes later, Morrison missed another chance as he fired Shariful’s cross wide. Awhile later, Towhidul Alam’s diving header off Shariful Islam’s cross from the right flank hit the outside net.
A quick counter attack resulted in Gambian midfielder Mamodou Lamin Faye firing off a shot from the middle of the box, only for Abahani skipper Yoko Samnick to block.
The four-time professional league champions continued to in the same vein in the second half and Ghanaian forward Awudu Ibrahim missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Receiving a through ball from Yoko Samnick, Awudu broke into the penalty area and tried his luck at the far post but his shot went just wide.
Abahani’s best chance came in the 69th minute. A cutback pass from Awudu Ibrahim set up Towhidul, who took a shot from the six-yard box. What Towhidul was trying to do was unclear, but his effort was collected by Morrison a yard away from the goalpost but he in turn shot straight to the goalkeeper.
A minute later, Wassiou Okalawon failed to control a long ball in the six-yard box.
Abahani had their very last chance in injury time when substitute forward Md Rajon Miah smashed the ball over the bar following a long cross from Nasir.
Match Highlights
Soccer Club Feni 0-0 Abahani Limited
23” Morrison volleyed the ball over the bar from the middle of the box after an Awudu Ibrahim cross from the right flank.
25” Morrison missed yet another chance, firing Shariful’s cross wide of the goal.
33” Shariful’s cross from the right flank found Towhidul in the box but the midfielder’s diving header hit the side net.
34” Gambian midfielder Mamodou Lamin Faye’s shot from the middle of the box was blocked by Yoko Samnick.
58” Receiving a through pass from Yoko Samnick, Awudu broke into the penalty area and tried his luck at the far post but his shot went just wide.
69” Awudu’s cutback, Towhidul’s shot on target and Morrison shot straight to the keeper.
70” Wassiou Okalawon failed to take control of a long ball inside the six-yard box.
90+” Md Rajon Miah smashed the ball over the bar following a long cross of Nasir.