Abahani Level Charity Series

Guest footballer Matiur Munna set up a first-half goal for Abul Hossain and scored the other after the break to help Abahani come back in the Teletalk Best of Three Series with a 2-1 win over arch rivals Mohammedan yesterday.

Abahani's win levelled the three-match charity series 1-1 after Mohammedan, who wasted one penalty and converted the other through Jumratul Islam Mithu on the night, had won Monday's opening match 5-4 in the tiebreaker after a goalless draw in regulation 90 minutes.

The target of the football series - to raise a considerable fund for the cyclone victims - however, hardly fulfilled as the number of spectators reduced even after the dramatic first match, where two booters were sent off, the referee was show-caused and Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was handed a touchline ban.

Before a meagre 6,000 fans, Mohammedan looked more positive for the first half hour. The black and whites, however, wasted great chances to take the lead and seal the series even before Abahani had settled on the pitch.

Farhad sent a fine chip from the left just after two minutes but Abahani's Ugandan defender Dominic headed out the ball with Nigerian striker Charles Figo closing in on a free header.

Farhad again caught the rival backline flat-footed from a corner but Mishu failed to connect the ball from six yards.

Moni, the sky-blues' visiting striker from Muktijoddha, limped off the ground due to a hamstring injury in the ninth minute and Abahani's miseries extended a couple of minutes later when Abul conceded a penalty, while tripping overlapping rival fullback Kamal inside the box.

Biplab proved it was not going to be Mohammedan's day when the Abahani keeper dived to his left to tip the spot kick by Arman Aziz onto his sidebar for a fellow defender to kick it out of danger.

With Pradeep, stand-in captain in absence of Joy who was red carded on Monday beside Mohammedan's Hassan Al Mamun, operating as rightback, the Abahani defence gradually regained solidity as Nazrul and Dominic finally showed some understanding.

It resulted in a few counter attacks but the lead came from a set piece in the 33rd minute. Munna lofted a freekick from the left and Abul's glancing header gave Aminul no chance at the Mohammedan goal as the ball slammed into the far corner.

Abahani doubled the lead just two minutes into the second session although Mohammedan players strongly appealed for an offside against Munna.

The midfielder took a corner from the right and the ball went to Robin and the Farashganj striker chipped a crossfield pass back to Munna, who flicked the ball past Aminul and toed it into an empty goal.

Figo, who twice threatened to score but failed to beat Biplab, however, had a hand when Mohammedan won the second penalty of the game as Rony - getting inside the box with Figo's pass - was felled by Dominic inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Mithu made no mistake to put the ball past an advancing Biplab to reduce the arrears.

The last chance of the game fell to Emily but the Abahani forward, having dribbled past two defenders, could not keep his drive under the bar five minutes from time.

Four players from each side were cautioned but tempers never got beyond control as the two arch rivals headed home to prepare for the deciding third and final match to be played tomorrow at the same venue.

Abdul Hannan refereed the match.

TEAMS

Abahani: Biplab, Pradeep (Waly), Nazrul, Dominic, Mintu, Abul, Pranotosh, Robin, Munna, Emily and Moni (Tipu and Zahed)

Mohammedan: Aminul, Ariful, Mishu (Manjamin), Biplab, Kamal, Ripon, Sharif, Arman Aziz, Mithu, Farhad (Rony) and Figo