Nitol-Tata National Football League
Divine blessings for Mohammedan
Blank Abahani 2-0 to lift National League crown
Sports Reporter
Mohammedan Sporting Club became the first team to lift the National League trophy for a second time when the Black and Whites blanked archrivals Abahani 2-0 in the final of the Nitol-Tata Fifth National Football League yesterday.
Skipper Alfaz Ahmed set the first goal for Divine Chibiuka in the 48th minute before scoring the second at the stroke of the final whistle as Mohammedan not only regained the title after two seasons but also booked a place in Asia's club competition AFC Cup.
About 25,000 fans gathered at the Bangabandhu National Stadium to see the first final between the country's most celebrated teams in three years but under pressure to produce a title following seasons of failure, both the sides began shakily.
And it was the in-form Abahani, unbeaten for 18 matches, who showed their nerves at the back. Centre-backs Pradeep and Marshall fumbled time and again under constant Mohammedan onslaught and goalkeeper Nizam had to rush and handle the ball out of his area in the 14th minute to stop an attack.
Just like the sky-blues, who did not have their semifinal hero Abdullah Parvez -- suspended for two bookings -- in the lineup, Mohammedan were without key midfielder Emeka, the injured Nigerian who slotted their all-important goal in the semifinal against Brothers Union.
But Mohammedan made up for Emeka's absence by packing their midfield with five matured men, who effectively neutralised Abahani playmakers Ndem and Egir Mohammed and launched quick counter attacks to kill the game. However, the champions -- who also maintained a tight defence -- were fortunate as referee Mansoor Azad ignored a series of fouls including an appeal for penalty when Abahani striker Farhad was tripped inside the box by Nazrul ten minutes before halftime.
The first real chance fell to Egir but the Moroccan's weak header on a centre by Farhad went straight to goalkeeper Biplab in the 17th minute.
Two minutes later, Nizam tipped over a dangerously dipping Alfaz cross out of his goal before midfielder Divine shot Munna's perfect centre just over from close.
Abahani should have taken the lead on the half-hour but Ndem, adjudged player of the tournament, rattled the sidebar after being picked by Egir's overhead pass.
Abahani substituted half-fit fullback Wali Faisal at the break and his replacement Lajuk's gaffe gave away Alfaz open space at the right three minutes into the second half. The veteran national striker chipped the ball near from the corner-flag and man-of-the-match Divine leaped in the air to shrug off challenges from Obaidur and Pradeep to nod home.
While all the foreign recruits had an off-day, Egir kept Abahani alive but his spectacular sidevolley on a centre by Obaidur was parried for a corner by an equally brilliant Biplab at the Mohammedan goal.
Two minutes later, the sky-blue booters appealed in vain again as Mohammedan defender Rezaul handled the ball inside the box while trying to clear a cross by Egir.
The last 15 minutes belonged to Mohammedan when they split the rival defence with aerial passes but Francis, chasing a high ball by Arman Aziz, failed to beat Nizam on one-on-one in the 88th minute.
The Abahani keeper once again pulled off a superb save, denying Nigerian striker Francis's shot from top-of-the-box after Hassan set him up with a long ball. However, the partial clearance was not enough as an onrushing Alfaz tapped the ball into an open net to spark wild celebrations seconds on the stroke of the final whistle.
For Mohammedan, whose first meeting against Abahani this season turned out to a nightmare 5-1 defeat, it was the first victory against their perennial foes in two years.
President Dr Professor Iajuddin Ahmed distributed trophies after the final as chief guest.
Mohammedan received Tk 5 lakh as winners and a Tata Indika sedan car while Abahani pocketed Tk 3 lakh.
Cameroonian Ndem Kiyek received Tk 50,000 and a scooter as player of the tournament while the Fair Play trophy went to debutants Samabesh Club of Munshiganj. Muktijoddha's Odafa Okelo got Tk 25,000 as top scorer with seven goals.
Yellow cards: Divine, Kamal (Mohammedan) and Nizam, Marshall, Egir (Abahani).
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Biplab, Kamal, Odaf, Nazrul, Hassan, Munna, Arman Aziz, Divine, Francis (Asad, 90th minute) and Alfaz.
ABAHANI: Nizam, Obaidur, Pradeep, Marshall, Wali (Lajuk, 46th), Ndem, Joy, Egir, Ujjal (Tipu, 75th), Farhad and Ibrahim.
Referee: Mansoor Azad.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/01/09/d60109040131.htm