Chittagong Abahani Ltd reached the final of the eight-team Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup football tournament beating De Spin Ghar Bazan FC of Afghanistan by 3-1 in the first semifinal in Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium on Tuesday, says news agency UNB.
Ctg Abahani will face the winner of the 2nd semifinal -- either Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club or Kingfisher East Bengal FC -- on Friday at the same venue.
In the day's semifinal Ctg Abahani dominated the first half by 1-0 goal.
Forward Yoko Steve Thomas put Ctg Abahani ahead in the 24th minute by a header from the top of the six yard box connecting a header of captain Zahid Hossain Ameli who headed a corner kick off Zahid Hossain from right flank (1-0).
Forward Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha doubled the margin for Ctg Abahani in the 58th minute by a powerful left footer shot from danger zone off a through pass of Yoko Steve Thomas from left flank (2-0).
Defender Sayed Mohammad Hashemi reduced the margin in the 78th minutes by a header from danger zone off a Gholam Hazrat free kick pass from left flank (2-1). Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha who was adjudged man of the match, scored his 2nd and team's 3rd goal in the 89th minutes by an angular left footer shot from danger zone off a Zahid Hossain long cross from midfield area (3-1).
In the 73rd minutes Bazan FC captain Gholam Hazrat curved a cross from danger zone which was saved by Ctg Abahani goalie Rasel Mahmud.
Earlier in the first half, Ctg Abahani stunned Bazan FC playing a forceful game with quick attacks, simultaneously defending their castle in a way that Bazan FC could hardly create any lucrative opportunity.
Ctg Abahani squandered another opportunity to score in the 9th minutes. Zahid Hossain Ameli failed to connect a right wing cross of Nigerian forward Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha in the danger zone, taking the ball from behind Zahid Hossain took a shot which went straight to goalie to grab.
A minute of silence was observed before the match to commemorate with the recent earthquake victims in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Yellow Cards: Rezaul Karim and Yoko Steve Thomas (Ctg Abahani); Gholam Hazrat, Said Mohammad and Mohammad Afshar (Bazan FC).
Ctg Abahani Ltd Squad: Rasel Mahmud, Rezaul Karim, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Zahid Hossain, Hemonta Vinsent Biswas, Miyhun Chowdhury (Shariful Islam), Zahid Hossain Ameli(Biplob), Sohel Rana, Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha, Byebeck Fonibagne and Yoko Steve Thomas.
De Spin Ghar Bazan FC: Sayed Mohammad Hashemi, Mohammad Rueed Samandari (Reza Allah Yari), Gholam Hazrat, Mustafa Afsher, Said Mohammad, M Anwar Akbari, Mehdi Rezayee, Zekria Azizi, Mohammad Afshar (Hazratgul Baran), Fardin Hakimi and Hameedullah Yousufzai.
Referee: Faizullah Timur (Kyrgyzstan).