Bashundhara Kings secured a convincing 3-0 win over Abahani Limited in the second semi-final of the ongoing Federation Cup football to set up a final showdown with the defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Munshigonj on Tuesday.
Abahani started the match quite impressively as they had a chance to take the lead just inside the seventh minute but Corneulis Stuart missed the first scoring opportunity. Washington Brandao sent a through ball towards Stuart who was well positioned but the Vincentian could not send the ball into the net.
As the match progressed the Sky Blues started losing their dominance in the midfield. The first opportunity for the Kings came in the 15th minute, but Sheikh Morsalin shot the ball out wide.
Kings’ winger Rakib Hossain took a powerful shot from outside the box and Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel failed to grab the ball. Morsalin tried to score from the rebound but failed to keep the ball on target.
Kings captain Robson Robinho scored the first goal for the Kings from a counter-attack in the 21st minute. Rakib supplied the ball from the right wing with a through pass and Robson did not make a mistake to send the ball into the net.
Abahani started a little pressing after conceding the first goal but whatever they tried could not break the Kings’ defence. Kings defenders were well-alerted around the box as they stopped all the scoring chances of Abahani Limited.
The first half ended with the Kings leading 1-0.
Oscar Bruzon’s team were more comfortable in the second half as they were playing very calmly. They had no pressure and kept on playing their normal passing football.
Rakib created a chance in the 65th minute but his shot directly went to the Abahani goalkeeper Shohel’s hand.
Dorielton Gomez scored a brilliant header for the Kings in the 71st minute as Rakib sent in a cross from the right-wing.
Substitute Mohammad Ibrahim scored the final goal for the Kings in the last second of the added time. Robson took a free-kick just outside the box which hit the bar and Ibrahim sent the rebound in with a simple tap-in.
The Kings will face the defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club in the final at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh on May 22 who beat Police FC in the first semifinal to advance to the final for a consecutive second time.
