First Blood For Mohammedan SC in Three-Match Teletalk Series

Mohammedan defeated Abahani 5-4 in sudden-death tiebreaker after the two archrivals' first meeting of the three-match Teletalk Series ended in a goalless draw at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, but the winners wounded the spirit of the game when they refused to play over a disallowed goal.

Abahani fullback Mintu made a goal line clearance in the last minute of the regulation 90 minutes as Mohammedan players claimed goal.

A mid-pitch fistfight followed between the two most senior players in the ground - Abahani captain Arif Khan Joy and Mohammedan's guest footballer Hassan Al Mamun - and referee Tayeb Hassan sent off both to restart the game in the injury time.

After the final whistle, when all players should have stayed inside the pitch fort he penalties, the Mohammedan booters suddenly walked off. Surprisingly, ex-national player and coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was leading the way.

It took a lot of persuasion by former Mohammedan and national stars Kaiser Hamid and Rumman Wali Bin Sabbir to calm the black and whites and send them back.

The 10,000-strong crowd finally saw normalcy return but ex-players criticised Mohammedan's attitude towards a match where only distressed people could have some gain.

"This is stupidity. This type of attitude will not take our football anywhere," said a frustrated former national and Mohammedan captain Badal Roy in his immediate reaction.

"I went out because of the red card to our player, not giving us a penalty and disallowing a genuine goal," said a fuming Manik defending himself. "My team also suffered due to biased referring in the recent past and I cannot stand that any longer."

Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu claimed they only took part in the shootout for the sake of football.

"No team can leave the pitch before the tiebreaker. Even if they need any refreshment, it is provided inside the pitch. Mohammedan refused to play and we should have been declared winners according to FIFA rules," Rupu opined.

The game, however, was heavily action-packed as none of the sides showed any off-season signs of lethargy under the lights.

B. League champions Abahani drew early blood but Arif cleared a darting low cross by Emily in the fifth minute.

Mohammedan enjoyed superior ball possession later as the sky-blues' depleted backline, missing Siraji, Waly and Pradeep, struggled throughout.

The dependable Nazrul and debutant Dominic, an African recruit whose country of origin was not even known to the Abahani officials, made numerous mistakes to keep custodian Biplab under constant threat.

Mohammedan's guest striker Charles Figo, however, should have sealed the match in regulation time but the Nigerian wasted two first-half chances when he failed to keep his shots on open target after Farhad typical missed a sitter in the seventh minute.

Emily and Moni kept Abahani alive and the latter tested Aminul with a freekick from long range before providing a superb chance for fellow Muktijoddha player Matiur Munna, who failed to get a touch at the far post.

Another guest of the day Aminul, who returned to action after missing an entire season due to injury, lost a high cross by Abahani rightback Obaidur after the half-hour mark but fortunately, the ball returned to his gloves after kissing the crossbar.

Aminul however, made a brilliant save when he held Munna's header from handshaking distance on a Moni freekick nine minutes after restart.

The rest of the show was Figo's, who was once denied by Obaidur's inspired defending, shot one over the bar, saw another one-on-one effort saved by Biplab's legwork.

Moni almost put Abahani ahead against run of play when he ran clear with Nazrul's overhead pass but Ariful made a successful tackle five minutes from time.

A counter attack in the next minute and Figo set substitute Rony a free hit but Biplab made a spectacular diving save. In the final minute, Rony cut a perfect cross from left but Biplab stopped Figo's header from point-blank range. The ball rolled towards goal and Mintu shot it out from the line to spark controversy that ended in a fiasco.

In the shootout, Ariful shot the ball over but Arman Aziz, skipper Biplab, Ripon, Sharif and Rony hit home from the spot.

Nazrul, Emily, Mintu and Abul scored for the sky-blues but the day belonged to Aminul who parried penalties by Moni and Abdullah Parvez to give Mohammedan a 1-0 lead in the series.

TEAMS

Mohammedan: Aminul, Arif, Hassan Al Mamun, Biplab, Kamal, Ripon, Sharif, Arman Aziz, Mithu (Manjamin), Farhad (Rony) and Figo.

Abahani: Biplab, Obaidur, Nazrul, Dominic, Mintu, Abul, Pranotosh (Parvez), Joy, Munna (Zahed), Moni and Emily.