Muktis gun down giants Ctg Abahani

Chittagong Abahani Limited, one of the favourites for the title, are on the verge of elimination from the group stage of the Walton Federation Cup football tournament when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra yesterday.
Held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, substitute Mohammed Robin scored the all important goal of the match in the 81st minute to down Chittagong Abahani and to bring Muktijoddha into quarterfinal.    
Chittagong Abahani , needing to win the match to ensure the quarterfinal berth as winners of Group B, looked to be on course for a place, as they began the match against Muktijoddha with some good attacking approach but failed to keep the pace. Chittagong Abahani failed to make any real threat in the opening 45 minutes excepting a Shariful poor cross from the byline inside the area but none of the forwards could reach it on 24th minute.
The Chittagong giants, who turned into real giants from underdogs in the domestic competition after signing up some of the big names in a bid to become one of the top teams which they proved by winning season’s curtain raiser the Independence Cup.
But their Federation Cup journey started with a very unfortunate feature, after a 0-0 draw against Sheikh Russel, that pressure piled up on them and suffered the shocking defeat and now almost eliminated from the group stage.     
Chittagong Abahani coach Joel Pevlic had to make a new set up in the Federation Cup rather than he played with in the Independence Cup, while four of top national stars, like Mamunul, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Sohel Rana, Yasin Khan and Yamin Munna were included in the lineup after having clearance from the BFF.
But the stars could not shine, as the title contenders are now on threat of elimination from the group stage.
Pevlic also tried with central defender Nasiruddin Chowdhury introducing him in the striking position but his experiment could not click.
Muktijoddha could have taken the lead in the 10th minute but a good header of Ahmed Kolo Musa on Sohel Rana was saved by Ctg goalkeeper Ashraful Rana.
After the goalless first half Chittagong Abahani made the first blood when they were very closer to score with producing a real chance on 53rd minute.
But Nasir Chowdhury failed to contact a cross of Sohel Rana when the move was built up down the left side with a superb combination with Shariful.
Robin, who replaced defender Tanver Rana on 80th minute, stunned the title contenders just after a minute with scoring a beautiful goal when he ran faster then the defenders to receive a long ball before to edging past the goalkeeper Rana (1-0).              
The Chittagong outfit despite pressed forward in the closing minutes in an attempt to find an equaliser that would take them closer to through but it was to no avail, as forwards failed to utilise the chances.
Specially, Tarik El Janaby, the Moroccan recruit forward squandered a golden chance in the dying minute when he failed to convert a penalty and that the fate of Port City outfit was sealed.

Muktis gun down giants Ctg Abahani

Chittagong Abahani Limited, one of the favourites for the title, are on the verge of elimination from the group stage of the Walton Federation Cup football tournament when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra yesterday. Held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, substitute Mohammed Robin scored the all important goal of the match in the 81st minute to down Chittagong Abahani and to bring Muktijoddha into quarterfinal. Chittagong Abahani , needing to win the match to ensure the quarterfinal berth as winners of Group B, looked to be on course for a place, as they began the match against Muktijoddha with some good attacking approach but failed to keep the pace. Chittagong Abahani failed to make any real threat in the opening 45 minutes excepting a Shariful poor cross from the byline inside the area but none of the forwards could reach it on 24th minute. The Chittagong giants, who turned into real giants from underdogs in the domestic competition after signing up some of the big names in a bid to become one of the top teams which they proved by winning seasons curtain raiser the Independence Cup. But their Federation Cup journey started with a very unfortunate feature, after a 0-0 draw against Sheikh Russel, that pressure piled up on them and suffered the shocking defeat and now almost eliminated from the group stage. Chittagong Abahani coach Joel Pevlic had to make a new set up in the Federation Cup rather than he played with in the Independence Cup, while four of top national stars, like Mamunul, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Sohel Rana, Yasin Khan and Yamin Munna were included in the lineup after having clearance from the BFF. But the stars could not shine, as the title contenders are now on threat of elimination from the group stage. Pevlic also tried with central defender Nasiruddin Chowdhury introducing him in the striking position but his experiment could not click. Muktijoddha could have taken the lead in the 10th minute but a good header of Ahmed Kolo Musa on Sohel Rana was saved by Ctg goalkeeper Ashraful Rana. After the goalless first half Chittagong Abahani made the first blood when they were very closer to score with producing a real chance on 53rd minute. But Nasir Chowdhury failed to contact a cross of Sohel Rana when the move was built up down the left side with a superb combination with Shariful. Robin, who replaced defender Tanver Rana on 80th minute, stunned the title contenders just after a minute with scoring a beautiful goal when he ran faster then the defenders to receive a long ball before to edging past the goalkeeper Rana (1-0). The Chittagong outfit despite pressed forward in the closing minutes in an attempt to find an equaliser that would take them closer to through but it was to no avail, as forwards failed to utilise the chances. Specially, Tarik El Janaby, the Moroccan recruit forward squandered a golden chance in the dying minute when he failed to convert a penalty and that the fate of Port City outfit was sealed.