Home ›› 31 May 2023 ›› Sport
History repeated itself on Tuesday when Mohammedan Sporting Club downed their arch-rival Abahani Limited, the defending champions, 4-3 in the penalties after the match was tied 4-4 after the extra time, in a high-voltage final to win the Federation Cup title after 14 years.
This was Mohammedan’s 11th Federation Cup title and the first trophy in 12 years.
Mohammedan skipper Souleymane Diabate scored four and another in the penalties to secure the win for the black-and-whites.
During the match at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla, Foysal Ahmed had taken Abahani to the lead in the 16th minute before Daniel Colindres made it 2-0 just two minutes before the half-time whistle.
Being down by two goals, Mohammedan fought back in the second half with back-to-back strikes from the skipper within five minutes. Diabate scored a volley in the 56th minute before striking a powerful header into the Abahani net in the 60th minute.
However, Abahani’s Nigerian forward Emeka Chukwudiebube Ogbugh took them into the lead once again in the 66th minute.
Afterwards, Abahani dominated the midfield as they enjoyed the better part of the position and it looked like the game was going to end in their favour. But Diabate struck again to complete his hat trick just a few minutes before the final whistle to keep his side still in the race and the match went into extra time.
Diabate again scored in the first half of the extra time to take Mohammedan in the lead for the first time in the game but Abahani’s Rahmat Mia equalised the score again in the second half.
As the scores remained tied, the match went onto the tiebreakers and Mohammedan came out as the champion, repeating the same feat from 14 years ago when they defeated Abahani in the tiebreakers to win their last Federation Cup title. Diabate scored from the first penalty shoot for his side while Abahani skipper Raphael Augusto missed the first shot, and Mohammedan was in the lead.
Mohammedan’s Shahrear Emon missed the fourth shot and again the scores were tied after the fourth shot. Abahani’s Colindres had the chance to take his side to the lead in the fifth shot but his shot was saved by Mohammedan goalkeeper.
At this point, Mohammedan’s Kamrul went to take the final shot and the situation was as if he scored, they would the title, and he did not miss the chance to take his side to the title after 12 years.
14 years ago, in 2009, the Federation Cup final saw these arch-rivals fight the title. In that match, Mohammedan’s Prem Lal scored a hat-trick as did Diabate on Tuesday. That match also went on to the penalties and Mohammedan won the match 4-1.
