Chattogram Abahani fight their way back into final

Chattogram Abahani twice fought back to beat Gokulam Kerala 3-2 in an entertaining first semifinal of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

The 2015 edition champions twice found themselves a goal down against the Durand Cup winners, but Ivorian midfielder Jean Charles Didier twice got the hosts back into the match before Chinedu Matthew’s extra-time goal gave them a well-deserved victory.

The home side, who were knocked out from the semifinals of the last edition, will face the winners of the second semifinal between Terengganu FC and Mohun Bagan in Thursday’s final.

Chattogram Abahani coach Maruful Haque made five changes from the previous match, going back to his preferred starting eleven and the home side looked the more adventurous in the early passage of the game even though their attacks found no end result.

Matthew and Arifur Rahman tried some incisive moves down the flanks but Luka Rotkovic, playing ahead of the two, somehow failed to find a way past the opposition defence.

Gokulam Kerala broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, somewhat against the run of play when Henry Kisekka shrugged off his marker Ikbol Jon, and despite a slight tackle from Riyadul Hasan, the Ugandan striker managed to poke the ball home past Chattogram Abahani keeper Mohammad Nehal.

The Durand Cup winners looked stronger and stronger as the match progressed despite not being too adventurous, but Didier got his side right back into the game with a clever finish a minute after restart following a through-pass from Arifur Rahman.

Gokulam Kerala upped the ante and skipper Marcus Joseph almost got his side the lead back on the hour-mark, his shot from an acute angle tipped over by Nehal. The Trinidadian striker, though, was on target from a similar attempt 20 minutes later after being set up by Kisekka.

With the clock running down on Chattogram Abahani, Didier once again stepped up to rescue his side with a thumping shot from inside the box on 89 minutes after following a cutback from substitute Sohel Rana.

Both sides looked weary as the game entered extra time, but the home side, buoyed by a strong crowd at their own backyard, found a way to raise their game.

Substitute midfielder Kawsar Ali Rabbi made a mazy run down the left and delivered an excellent cross for Matthew, whose initial effort was blocked by a defender. The Nigerian had a second bite of the cherry and made no mistake to smash the rebound home in the last minute of the first half of extra time.

Skipper Jamal Bhuiyan limped out soon to a rousing ovation from the crowd and the home side threw everything, including substitute defender Plane Petar, to keep Gokulam Kerala at bay and salvage a victory.