AFC President's Cup Qualifiers 2009 Abahani stay alive

Abahani put in a good performance against formidable Ashgabat Football Club but still failed break the stalemate as the all-important last Group B match of the AFC President's Cup ended in a goalless draw at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The outcome however was good enough for the Turkmenistan side to enter into the last four as they became group champions by virtue of better goal difference. The result also leaves Abahani with a bright chance to make their semifinal berth as a best runners-up team.

But the popular Dhanmondi outfit have to wait until June 14 to know their fate when the group matches will be completed.

The central Asian side came into the match on the back of a 5-1 mauling of Sri Lanka Army but were nowhere near as imposing against the hosts as Abahani's defensive strategy worked brilliantly.

Rather the B.League champions dominated the proceedings for most of the time but lacked finishers to put the result at bed. Ghanaian Awudu Ibrahim was under constant marking but still managed to show his class on a number of occasions but national striker Emily was off-colour for the second consecutive game.

On the other hand Abahani wrongly tried to beat the opponents in the air but failed as the Ashgabat defense was marshaled by their tall goalkeeper Harchik who foiled the local side's attempts.

Emily got the first chance in the fifth minute but the young striker played a feeble shot to the opponents goalie after receiving the ball from Ibrahim.

Zahed Parvez and captain Nazrul foiled a further two chances.

But it was substitute striker Shahajuddin Tipu who was close to becoming a hero for the successive second match but his shot in the injury time came back from the side bar to frustrate the local crowd at the big bowl.

Everybody however was surprised by the Abahani's think-tank decision to bring in Tipu with only three minutes to go but coach Amalesh Sen defended his decision by saying that the team played according to their plan. "We set a plan with three central defenders and two wing-back after watching Ashgabat match against Sri Lanka Army. I am happy that the team played according to our plan but I must say we created opportunities but failed to capitalise on it," said the veteran coach.

"Actually we lost an opportunity against Sri Lanka Army because we could even have scored five/six goals against them and in that case today's draw could have been helpful for us," he added.

On the other hand Ashgabat coach Grigoryants Boris admitted that Abahani played better football but expressed his satisfaction over the outcome.

"We had a target not to lose the match and we achieved it. I am really happy with the result. Ibrahim played brilliantly but he lacked partner," said Boris.

YELLOW CARDS: Faisal (Bangladesh), Rustam and Dovlet (Ashgabat)
TEAMS
ABAHANI: Biplob, Nazrul, Sujan, Mamun, Pranotosh, Emily, Parvez (Tipu), Siraji (Obaidur) (Abul), Yussif, Faisal and Ibrahim.
ASHGABAT: Harchik, Ilyas, Ahmed, Aleksey, Arif, Serdar (Aziz), Guvanch, Rustam, Parahat, Amanov (Dayanch) and Dovlet (Merdan).
Referee: Mohammad Mousa Khalaf Abu Loum (Jordan).