Champs Abahani Sign Off in Style

Abahani's championship party turned festive as they celebrated their B. League title with a 1-0 win over Muktijoddha in a heavyweight Dhaka derby yesterday.

Blue was the colour of the day and although the Abahani gallery only was half-full, there was no shortage of lively dancing amidst drumbeats after substitute Zahed Parvez separated the two sides in the 73rd minute.

As soon as both sides' last match of the competition finished, fans began to spray colours on each other and the officials and staff were no exception as they garlanded the players, coach and manager at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The sky-blues, who had ensured the trophy of the inaugural professional football league in their 19th and penultimate round beating Sheikh Russel 2-0, finished on 47 points, eight points ahead of runners-up Mohammedan who have a match in hand to try and trim the gap.

Muktijoddha's fifth loss in 20 matches kept them at third place but fourth-placed Russel can overtake the Reds with a win in their away match against Chittagong Mohammedan tomorrow, the concluding day of the 11-team league.

Abahani, who began with an 11-match unbeaten record, never looked content just with the crown as it so often happened in the past. And they proved on the pitch they wanted to sign off with a victory.

The determination resulted in Amalesh Sen's side, who had drew goalless with the same opposition in the league opener on March 2, enjoying absolute domination as Muktijoddha looked like a ship without sails in absence of a coach.

The Reds, one of the pre-tournament favourites, not only were the flop of the season but in-house politics also saw the giants without coach Abu Yusuf's services for the last couple of games.

Like their previous game, Yusuf was at the tent on request of club officials but had no says.

Abahani kept the rival backline on its toes and defender Nazrul's 21st minute flick on a freekick by Abdullah Parvez came off the defensive wall. Four minutes later, Abul sliced through two defenders but his low drive was collected by goalkeeper Titumir in his second attempt.

Nazrul, performer of the season, then backheaded a corner by Ujjal only to be denied by the crossbar on the half hour before Emily fluffed a sitter on stroke of halftime.

After Ibrahim's hard work at the right, Abul stopped the ball for Emily but Abahani's 12-goal star striker saw his placing shot blocked by the last defender.

After Muktijoddha's all first-half efforts were caught in Abahani's offside traps, they reorganised to have territorial advantage for ten minutes after resumption.

The sky-blues, however, turned on the style after the hour mark with the indefatigable Ibrahim coming close twice.

The Ghanaian was denied by Hassan Al Mamun's timely interception before Titumir pulled off a superb one-handed save at his near post after Ibrahim raced into the box and hammered from close.

Emily, who netted ten time in his last nine matches, got a great chance in the 70th minute when Ibrahim and Tipu exchanged passes between them to set the national striker but Titumir once again rushed out of his line to snatch the ball.

The pressure told three minutes later when Maruf conceded a freekick just outside their area, tripping Ibrahim dangerously.

Ibrahim, who immediately retaliated by hitting Maruf, was lucky to escape with a caution instead of a red card from referee Mansoor Azad.

The resulting freekick put Abahani ahead as Ibrahim chipped the ball over the wall for Joy, whose mistimed header found substitute Zahed at the right side and the unmarked midfielder, who replaced Abul eight minutes earlier, volleyed a first-time shot into the back of the net.

The joy of Abahani's 14th win, however, ended up with a Tk 10,000 fine as custodian Biplab became the fourth player in the sky-blue shirt to receive a yellow card just after making an outstanding save in the 90th minute. It was Maruf who had the only serious attempt on the rival goal in the 90th minute but his long-range shot was tipped wide by a full-stretched Biplab.