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Attack v defence

Abahani-Mohammedan semifinal today

Sports Reporter
Perennial foes Abahani and Mohammedan will renew their rivalry for the fourth time this season when they face off in the second semifinal of the
Modhumoti Bank Independence Gup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
Abahani beat Mohammedan twice and drew once in three previous meetings this season.
Although the battle of country's two giants hardly draws the spectators nowadays, it still means something on the pitch where adrenalin among the rival players run high, the referee's decision is greeted with vicious collective protest, brawls pop up at the drop of a hat and more importantly the level of intensity rises to some heights. But it is more like a pale imitation of a great rivalry that captivated the whole nation till the late 1980s.
With holders Sheikh Russel, favour-
ites Sheikh Jamal and former champions Muktijoddha already being eliminated from the tournament, the winners of the two bitter rivals will certainly take the pole position to claim the Fourth Independence Cup title come Saturday's final against Feni Soccer Club.
Abahani are desperate to make it to the final, which they could not make in any domestic tournament since the 2011 Super Cup.
Mohammedan however have enjoyed better recent track records than Abahani in tournaments; the Black and Whites won the Super Cup last year.
"We have been playing better in the tournament than the League and if we can play our own game, we can leave the field with our heads held high," said Mohammedan captain Zahid Hasan Emily on the eve of the semifinal.
New signing Nigerian defender Ubom Henry and midfielder Zongo Ousseni from Burkina Faso are providing fresh hopes for Mohammedan, who have now a solid defence marshalled by towering defenders
Henry and Cameroonian Bayback. The inclusion of Zongo made Mohammedan's midfield more effective though they still have problems up front.
"With the inclusion of new players, we are now in a better position. But I think it will be a competitive and 50-50 match," said Mohammedan's Portuguese coach Rui Capella Batista.
Abahani, on the other hand, have showed improved performance in the tournament with an organised attack, good ball possession and crisp passing. The attacking zone has been bolstered with the inclusion of Portuguese forward Leonildo Suares, who showed his striking prowess with a brace on his debut in the quarterfinal against Mutkijoddha.
It is expected to be a battle between Abahani's striking foreign trio versus Mohammedan's fortified defence.
"If we can carry the momentum of our last match to the semifinal we will win, though Mohammedan is always a tough opponent for Abahani," said