Tuck steers Abahani to win 9th title
Sports Reporter
An early strike from the English play-maker Lee Tuck steered Abahani Limited to celebrate the Walton Federation Cup victory defeating Arambagh Krira Sangha by a solitary goal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The Sky-Blues, did not allow the Arambagh outfit to repeat the group leg result as they won the final to lift their ninth title of the Federation Cup, which they deserved.
The champions Abahani Limited received Taka 5,00,000 besides the trophy while Arambagh received taka 300,000 as runners-up team. This was third occasion that Arambagh entered into Federation Cup final but with no avail.
Kester Akon awarded the highest scorers prize with scoring four goals, Lee Tuck was adjudged the player of the final and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra was given the Fair Play trophy.
Abahani, might be remembered the huge threatening of a solitary goal defeat by Arambagh to overcome the group phase and just squeezed Arambagh with producing immense pressure right from the first whistle and closer to open scoring in the very fifth minute.
But the captain and also the custodian of Arambagh Mitul brilliantly saved consecutive strong attempts from Sunday and Jewel Rana on fifth minute and an Ariful tremendous header on a Lee Tuck free kick on seventh minute.
Failing to score from the initial endeavors, Abahani became more furious and took the lead inside 10 minutes pinned down Arambagh under pressure.
Nabib Newaz Jeban broke down the left wing and sent over a cross for Lee Tuck, who returned after a match, latched onto the ball inside the box in an inept situation being surrounded by the Arambagh defenders before firing a right footer into the top corner of the net to send Abahani into lead on 11th minute (1-0).
Arambagh, who showed some splendid performance in the first phase against Abahani and came from behind to kill another giants Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club on their way to final, not looked to be a spirited unit on the day. Specially in the first half they were ruder tremendous pressure.
However, trailing by 0-1, Arambagh tried to come out from their defensive stance and fabricated some fierce attacks when they had every chance to level the margin inside 10 minutes but Abahani keeper Shahedul Alam Sohel denied the first effort of Jafar Iqbal when a powerful volley of the youngster was saved for a corner in the 51st minute.
Arambagh, continued the charge and again went closer to score goal but this time a Yoko Samnick powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected defender Samad and returned to play hitting the side post on 56th minute.
Arambaghs all hopes were shattered on 60th minute when Samnicks solo effort was wiped out by Abahani captain Ariful Islam when the Cameroonian (Samnick) left the central defender to enter into open space inside danger area receiving a through ball from Kester Akon.
Zahid Ahsan Russel, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth and Sports, distributed prizes among the winners as the chief guest. BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi, vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Premier Division Football League Committee Abdur Rahim were present among others in the prize giving ceremony.
