Hosts Chittagong Abahani made it into the final of the inaugural Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup with a brave display to outclass Afghan champions De Spin Ghar Bazan with a convincing 3-1 victory yesterday.
In front of more than 15,000 spectators at MA Aziz Stadium, the home side entertained the crowd with continuous attacks right from the beginning. Yoko Samnick gave the port city club the lead within the half-hour mark before Eleta Kingsley added two more in the second half. Sayed Hashemi’s goal proved to be nothing but a mere consolation for the visitors.
Zahid Hossain appeared the most threatening player on the pitch for the visitors but defender Rezaul Karim deserved the most credit for keeping the defence line solid and not conceding more than just once.
But Eleta stole the show with his brace. In-form national winger Zahid started on the right wing and created most of the chances from his flank using his pace, dribbling skills and it was because of him Eleta got plenty of spaces for his two goals.
Bazan head coach Waheedullah Wahidi blamed the players’ lack of fitness for the defeat and admitted that his charges were “mentally not in the ground”. But the hosts showed no mercy on the pitch and could have taken the lead with just eight minutes into the game with three consecutive efforts.
Kingsley Chigozie’s initial effort was blocked by the goalkeeper before Jahid Hasan Ameli’s shot from the middle of the box was cleared by a defender. Zahid’s shot on a rebounder went just wide while Cameroonian midfielder Yoko, the former Abahani man, gave the port city outfit the deserved lead in the 24th minute.
A Zahid corner was headed down brilliantly by Ameli which Yoko smashed home from the middle of the box, giving no chance to the custodian.
Zahid’s pace penetrated the Afghan defence once again in the 44th minute but this time, his dangerous cross was cleared for a corner by Sayed. The Afghan champions did not have a shot on target in the remainder of the first half.
Eleta missed an opportunity to double the lead in the 55th minute when the Nigerian’s effort, a side-footed volley, failed to connect properly following a high Mithun cross.
Eleta doubled the lead just three minutes later. Collecting a through pass from Yoko, the Nigerian striker fooled a defender at the edge of the box before firing home from the right corner of the penalty area. Eleta and Co celebrated the goal like Swansea’s French striker Bafetimbi Gomis who did the same after scoring the winner against Manchester United earlier this season.
Afghan defender Sayed reduced the margin in the 79th minute when the tall centre-back headed home a Gholam Hazrat free-kick.
The Afghans went all out for the equaliser. Abahani defender Bayebeck Fonibagne made a brilliant headed clearance to save the side in the 82nd minute.
Eleta however, killed all the hopes of the visitors by sealing victory against the run of play one minute before the end of stipulated time. Receiving a pass from Zahid in the halfway line, the Nigerian striker ran free towards the goal, outpaced his marker while breaking into the box before slotting home with a powerful and precise finish.
Chittagong Abahani will now face the winner of today’s second semi-final between Dhaka Mohammedan and Kolkata’s East Bengal. The grand finale is scheduled for this Friday.
