Local favourites Abahani got off to a winning staft In the Bangabandhu Cup silver-jubilee of Independence football tournament defeating Malaysia Blue by the odd goal in three at the floodlit Dhaka Stadium yesterday.

In an ordinary display of football, Abahani aided by

short passes but were hardly able to make any penetratra-tlon to open up the water-tight Abahani defence.

Abahani could have taken a lead as early in the third minute when Raju sent a brilliant cross from the right Oank. But Tipu. who was standing in front of the empty net. spoiled

ond half and reduced the margin when they earned a penalty following a rough charge by substitute Abahani keeper Dhanu to Malaysian forward Risal Hasan. The Dhaka crowd experienced a new thing last night when they saw. Malaysian keeper Omar brilliantly converting the spot kick

quick blows In a span of only two minutes led the first half 2-0.

Striker Sourav Majurnder Raju scored the first goal in the 14th minute with a spectacular header before Shahazuddin Tipti struck the second with a cool placing shot from inside the opponents! box . On the other hand. Malaysia pulled one goal back midway through the second half with their custodian Mohammed Arman Omar converting a 12-yarder.

Abahani. who failed to record their second hat-trick championship in the local Premier league this season . be-.

the sitter heading the ball straight to a hapless Malaysia custodian.

It was in the 14th minute when Abahani got their first goal Tlie move originated from the left aide with Tipu sending the uall to Rakib who lobbed the ball Inside Malaysian box from where Raju made no mistake to heading trie ball home amidst cheers horn the crowd.

(1-2).

Alter conceding the goal Abahani became a bit scared and remained defensive throughout the remaining part of the match allowing no rooms to the Malaysians.

With yesterdayis win . Abahani kept their hojies to qualify for the semifinals from three-team first round Group A . They will meet Calcutta Mo-

gan their campaign yesterday in the cup opener on a promising note with four hired hooters-- defender Sohel Al Masum. midfielder Arif Khan Joy and forwards Sourav Majurnder Raju and Shahazuddin Tipu— in their first eleven.

Although, the sky blues gained control over the mediocre Malaysian outfit from the word egoi, they had to wait for a while to break the eveningis duck when an airborne Sourav headed home a spectacular curler from the left.

The Malaysians . who in their first appearance looked unimpressive . especially in the frontline . played some delicate

It did not take even a minute to complete the celebration as Abahani struck again in the next minute with Tipu. after receiving a short pass from Rakib at the top of the box. magnificently placing the ball home Cast a helpless Malaysian goal-eeper Omar on his right (2-0).

In the remaining first half. Abahani had two more opportunities to extend the margin one in the 26th minute and other in the 39th minute. But in both cases, Mizanis headers were nicely taken by Omar without any trouble.

Taking an advantage of a Hied Abahani outfit after the breather, Malaysian Blue staged a rally In the early sec-

hammedan Sporting Club in the last group match scheduled at the same venue on January 5.

Yellow cards: Dhanu, Hasan Al Mamun. Mizan (Abahani) and Azrin Shah. Nagaraja (Malaysia Blue).

TEAMS

ABAHANI: Biplab (Dhanu). Hasan Al Mamun. Sohel Reza. Munna. Sohel Ai Masum. Saurav Raju. Joy. Barun, Rakib. Tipu and Mizan.

MALAYSIA BLUE: Omar. Amir. Karim. Rahim. Aizal. Yo-geswaran. Azrin Shah. Hoe Guan, Nagarajan, Julfikari (Hamid) and risal (Otman).

Referee: Bazzam Abdullah (Iran).