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Abahani off awkwardly

Arambagh handcuff Sky-Blues again

SPORTS REPORTER
Unlike their championship rivals, Abahani made a stum-
bling start to the second-leg of the Premier Bank Premier Football League yesterday.
While Mohammedan, Brothers and Muktijoddha got off to comfortable identical 3-1 wins, struggling giants Abahani's woes intensified when they suffered a goalless draw at the hands of Arambagh Krira Sangha at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Lying a distant fourth in the ten-team table with 16 points, Abahani looked incapable of winning but had Ibrahim not squandered a golden chance -- firing a weak penalty straight at Arambagh keeper Shakil, the Sky-Blues could have stolen three points.
It was the second time that Arambagh handcuffed Abahani in the league after the two sides' 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Abahani had goalkeeper Nizam back after five matches but with five key players -- Joy, Ndem, Parvez, Farhad and Tipu -- absent due to suspension, they were forced to field one of the weakest teams in decades.
After a decent start, which saw Ujjal's second minute freekick spectacularly saved by a full stretch Shakil and Ghanaian forward Ibrahim's placing shot going just wide, Abahani failed to make any attempt on the rival goal in the rest of the first half.
Abahani even did not have enough strength on the reserve bench and made only one change, bringing on veteran Tushar after the break for another ageing midfielder Selim. Tushar's long passes, however, created a few chances for Anwar but the inexperienced striker -- playing his first full game for the
popular Dhanmondi outfit -- looked shaky in the scoring zone.
Anwar, left unmarked by the three-man Arambagh central defence twice, headed the ball over the bar on both occasions and his goal midway through the second half was ruled out for offside.
Abahani were finally thrown a lifeline in the 71st minute when referee Abdul Hannan awarded the Sky-Blues a penalty after Ujjal was tripped from behind by Ramjan in
the box. Ibrahim, who was unimpressive throughout the game, could not use the opportunity due to lack of confidence as his feeble shot from the spot rolled slowly along the ground before Shakil made an effortless spot.
Arambagh, who are seventh with ten points, came out of their defensive shell on occasions and created two good chances. But Ritu's powerful drive from ten yards on a 73rd-
SEE PAGE 13 COL 4 FROM PAGE 12
minute counter-attack was cleared off the line by Lajuk. Cameroonian centre-back Marshall's inspired defending also rescued Abahani from humiliation in the dying moments when he made another goalline save after Arambagh substitute Rintu placed the ball past standin keeper Nizam.
Yellow cards: Obaidur, Tushar (Abahani) and Ramjan (Arambagh). TEAMS
ABAHANI: Nizam, Obadur,
Pradeep, Marshall, Lajuk, Zahid, Ujjal, Selim (Tushar), Wali, Ibrahim and Anwar.
ARAMBAGH: Shakil, Dulal
(Ghansah), Akram, Juku, Russell, Khalil (Rintu), Imrul, Morshed, Ritu and Patrick.
Referee: Abdul Hannan.