SK Kamal Football: Malaysia's Terengganu emerge new champions

Terengganu Football Club of Malaysia emerged new champions of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football Tournament beating hosts Chattogram Abahani Limited by 2-1 goals in the final at floodlit MA Aziz Stadium here on Thursday. 

Midfielder Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat and defender Azalinullah Bin Md Alias scored one goal each for Terengganu FC while Montenegrin striker Rotkovic Luka scored the lone goal for Chattogram Abahani.

In the match, Chattogram Abahani Ltd got several good chances but spoiled those due to poor finishing.

In a span of five minutes (9th and 13th minutes), Abahani captain-cum-midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan and striker Rotkovic Luka came close to score but failed.

Just after three minutes (16th minute), Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat scored first for the visitors by a header from the goalmouth melee, off a corner of captain-cum-midfielder Lee Tuck (1-0).

In the 20th minute, Azalinullah Bin Md Alias widened the margin for the Malaysian club by a cool-placing shot after entering the danger zone from the left wing (2-0).

After the half time, Chattogram Abahani reduced the margin when a left footer of Rotkovic Luka kissed the net hitting the cross bar in the 48th minute (2-1).

The hosts got two more chances in the 70th and 81st minutes but failed to convert any due to the strong defence by Terengganu FC defenders.

Jamal Bhuiyan and Md Rockey of Chattogram Abahani Ltd and Terengganu FC Head Coach Md Nafuzi Bin Mahammad Zain, Serhii Adrieiev got yellow cards.

The Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, a biennial soccer event, was earlier held twice in Chattogram in 2015 and 2017.

Chattogram Abahani Ltd emerged champions of the first edition of the tournament in 2015 beating East Bengal FC of India by 3-1 goals in the final while TC Sports Club of the Maldives emerged champion in the second edition in 2017 beating Pocheon Citizen FC of South Korea by 4-2 goals

Chattogram Abahani Ltd organises the tournament on regular basis in memory of Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Fathser of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Chattogram Abahani Limited: Md Nehal, Jamal Bhuiyan, Rotkovic Luka, Manik Hossan Mollah, Ikbol Jon, Yeasin Arafat, Riyadul Hasan Rafi, Ariful Islam (Kawsar Ali Rabbi-79th), Md Rahmat Mia (Md Rockey-42nd), Kpehi Jean Charles Didier (Sohel Rana-56th), Chinedu Matthew.

Terengganu Football Club: Lee Tuck, Bruno Suzuki Castanheira (Hafizal Alias-91st), Zuasyraf Bin Zulkiefle, Azalinullah Bin Md Alias (Rahmat Bin Makasuf-73rd), Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat, Dechi Marcel N'Guessan, Ilham Amirullah Bin Razali, Aqil Irfanuddin, Syafik Bin Ismail, Kamal Azizi Bin Zabri (Engku Md Nur Shakir-77th), Serhii Adrieiev.

Referee: Sudish Kumar Pande (Nepal).