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Mohammedan, Abahani begin unimpressively

SPORTS REPORTER
Mohammedan and Abahani got off to winning starts on the opening day of
the Tibet 20th Federation Cup final round yesterday. But the two popular clubs showed little signs of improved performance after their disappointing showing in the Independence Cup, where they were eliminated from the semifinal stage.
Moments of individual brilliance rescued a lacklustre Mohammedan with a 2-1 win over Dhaka Wanderers in the opening match. Captain Alfaz scored a spectacular goal from a setpiece and fed the match winner for substitute Manju in the second-half after Milon had equalised for qualifiers Wanderers.
In the other Group B match under lights, a 51st minute strike by Farhad helped Abahani squeak past Arambagh 1-0.
MOHAMMEDAN-WANDERERS
The last year's runners-up went ahead even before their opponents had settled with Alfaz curling in a left-footed freekick from 19 yards into the far corner of net, giving Wanderers keeper Sohel no chance to react.
But apart from that touch of class from the Mohammedan captain, the Black and Whites hardly impressed their fans, who have been complaining about the team's weakness from the start of the season.
Under new coaching pair Saiful Bari Titu and Mohammed Panir, who
took over from sacked Korean coach Man Young Kang before this tournament, the midfield and defence lacked coordination.
Mohammedan could have conceded an equaliser three minutes later when a wicked deflection off a flag-kick beat custodian but only to be cleared by Faisal Mahmud from the line.
Biplab also made two fine saves
to deny a cross by Milon and a fierce freekick by Wanderers defender Narayan before Milon put the ball just wide from close on the brink of first-half under pressure from the defenders.
The pressure told on the hour when Milon, who has scored plenty of goals against Mohammedan in recent years, finally equalised with a
SEE PAGE 17 COL 1 Mohammedan
FROM PAGE 16
placing shot from close after Apu did the hard work at left flank.
Wanderers, once a major force in domestic soccer and Mohammedan's archrivals before the rise of Abahani, bombarded the rival post with relentless assaults but national number two custodian Biplab foiled efforts from Milon and Nurul Islam.
Mohammedan relieved their supporters in the 68th minute when Manju, who replaced Nakib at the break, headed home the match winner after Alfaz brilliantly nodded a long cross by Mintu to the unmarked substitute.
With the defence in tatters, Mohammedan were under threat in the last 10 minutes but Biplab held on to a powerful volley by substitute Shakil before Milon missed a sitter, putting the ball into the side-netting even after going round the goalie.
ABAHANI-ARAMBAGH
Unlike their wretched Inde-pendence Day Cup campaign, Abahani began brightly but had only two clear-cut chances to open the scoring before the break.
Farhad, one of the two local players to wear the Sky-Blues' No. 10 shirt after the club's legendary striker Salahuddin, failed to utilise both the opportunities.
In the 15th minute, his powerful right-footer from inside the box was denied by Arambagh goaltender Shakil while the diminutive forward failed to beat the defensive wall from ten yards after a dashing run from Cameroonian midfielder Ndem Kiyak at the right.
A fine through pass from impressive newcomer Zahid finally helped Farhad to break the deadlock six minutes after break when he beat an offside trap and placed the ball past the advancing keeper.
Abahani came close to doubling the margin halfway through the second half but Ndem's scorching drive went inches wide of the sidebar.