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Sky Blues scrape through

Sports Reporter
Title contenders Abahani confirmed their Citycell Federation Cup semifinal berths with a 3-1 shootout win against Sheikh Russel KC in the last quarterfinal tie at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Mehdi Hasan Ujjal put Abahani ahead in the first half before Mohammad Rony cancelled the lead with a last-gasp strike to force last year’s runners-up, Abahani, into the penalty shootout the third time in four quarterfinal clashes.
However. Abahani goalkeeper-cum-captain Biplob Bhattacharjee hardly endured any labour under the post as two out of four Sheikh Russel players sent the ball wide from the spot. Biplob did stop a Maruf Ahmed shot after failing to resist Abdullah Parvez's left-footer in front of some 5,000 spectators at the big bowl.
Abahani's Samad Yousuf, Sheriff Deen Mohammedan and Enamul Haq easily
converted the first three shots to set the Sky Blues' semifinal tie with Beanibazar Sporting Club on Sunday.
Abahani coach Amalesh Sen. however, was not happy with the team's performance and stressed on the midfield, which looked shaky to allow the Sheikh Russel forwards to attack throughout the second-half.
"We played well in the first half and the midfielders also looked impressive but there was clear a lack of combination in the second half as the players might have thought the lone goal was enough to seal the victory,” said Amalesh.
"However, the defenders erased the pressure smoothly, excepting a blunder by Samad, who should have cleared the ball in the first chance," said Abahani's long-serving coach.
After the first two quarterfinal ties were settled by the tiebreakers, Abahani had prepared for the shootouts and easily came out on top of the achievement.
Despite losing the semifinal fight,
Sheikh Russel KC coach Kamal Babu had no disappointment, but felt better thinking of the spirited performance showed by his charges.
"I had no pain after going down in tiebreaker, but I am happy to have seen the boys playing their natural game.
"1 think the players were over excited after levelling the margin in stoppage time and they could not get much time to get out of their excitement and squandered the spot kicks," said Kamal.
From beginning to the last whisde, Sheikh Russel played with an amazing pace though they could hardly split die Abahani backline marshalled by Ghanaian Samad, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Ibnul Siraji and Rajani Kama Barman, who was at the centre of foiling all Sheikh Russel's efforts.
Abahani almost suffered a setback in the initial moments before onrushing goalkeeper Biplob cleared an effort from striker Mohammad Yousuf while the B. League
FROM PAGE 17 champions, Abahani, came close to taking a lead with Ghanaian duoAwudu Ibrahim and Sheriff playing a cute one-two to advance into the danger zone. But, Sheikh Russel's Ghanaian defender Abbas Inusah quickly rushed into the box to clear for a corner in the 12th minute.
Sheikh Russel built most of their attack from the right side with Mobarrak Hossain frequently beating Abahani's national back Mishu and the winger whipped in a nice cross for Abdullah Parvez, whose one-bounce shot went wide causing .no damage to his former outfit.
Abahani striker Mohammad Robin should have availed a Prantosh pass inside the box, but the former Mohammedan striker took time to make space on his favourite right foot, but could hardly take the shot properly, hitting it straight to goalkeeper MazharuJ Islam Himel on the half-hour mark.
However, Abahani went ahead three minutes later when Ujjal picked up the ball in midfield, advanced into the danger zone and smashed a shot that found the back of the Sheikh Russel net with a deflection off Russel's rlofpnrlpr Kamal Hossain.
After resumption, Sheikh Russel looked more energetic and kept their mighty opponents at bay throughout the second half as the Abahani midfielders could hardy resist the Sheikh Russel men, who, however, saw Rajanai and Samad foil all their efforts. But with the crowd leaving the stadium in anticipation of an Abahani win, Sheikh Russel stunned all to equalise the margin two minutes into the injury time of the second half. Winger Mobarrak having availed a fumble of defender Samad set Rony at the edge of the eight-yard zone and the striker made no mistake to fire home and take the game into the shoot-out.
TEAMS
ABAHANI. Biplob, Siraji, Samad, Rajani, Mishu, Ujjal (Motiur Munna), Prantosh Kumar. Shahedul Alam (Enamul Haq), Robin (Zahed Parvez Chowdhury), Sheriff and Ibrahim.
SHEIKH RUSSEL: Mazharul Islam Himel, Aminul Islam. Zahirul Islam. Kamal Hossain, Abass, Abdullah Parvez, Maruf, Aminul Islam Ripon (RajonMia).
Referee: Abdul I lannan Miron Yellow cards: Shahedul, Ibrahim (Abahani). Maruf (Sheikh Russel)