A late header helped Abahani Limited hand Maldives outfit Club Eagles a 2-1 defeat in the preliminary round of the AFC Cup at the muddy Sylhet District Stadium Wednesday to advance to the play-off.
The Sky Blues will next face Mohun Bagan Super Giant of India in the play-off match this Tuesday.
Grenadian forward Stewart Cornelius put the home side ahead in the opening half which was cancelled out by Eagles captain Ahmed Rizuvan after the break before Brazilian defender Danilo Augusto secured the victory in the 89th minute.
Abahani’s Portuguese head coach Mario Lemos fielded all six foreign players in the starting XI and among them five, including Cornelius, were recent fresh signings who also made debut for the club.
The hosts dominated the game from the beginning as Uzbekistan midfielder Muzaffar Muzaffarov saw couple of his efforts in the quarter-hour mark saved by Eagles goalkeeper Mohamed Shafeeu.
Cornelius, who joined Abahani on loan from Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd, opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a glancing header on a cross from Ojukwu David Ifegwu.
The visitors equalized the margin soon after the hour-mark when Rizuvan volleyed past Abahani keeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom following a Milovan Petrovic free-kick.
Cornelius squandered a great chance in the 73rd minute when he was one-on-one with the Eagles netminder but his weak shot was blocked for a corner.
Brazilian center-back Danilo Augusto, who is on loan from Fortis FC, headed home a corner to seal the winner just a minute before end of stipulated time.
RESULT
Abahani 1 (Cornelius 20, Augusto 89) Eagles 1 (Rizuvan 63)
