Mohammedan thrash Abahani to win first Federation Cup in 14 years

Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated Abahani Limited to win Federation Cup after a hiatus of 14 years.

Mohammedan captain Souleymane Diabate scored all four goals as the Black and Whites edged out a magnificent 4-2 win on penalties against Abahani in Cumilla on Tuesday (May 30).

Mohammedan’s substitute goalkeeper Ahsan Habib Bipu denied shots from Abahani captain Raphael Augusto, who stepped up to take the first penalty, and Daniel Colindres as Mohammedan, despite Shahriar Emon’s miss, ensured their first trophy in nine years at the Dhirendranath Datta Stadium after the regulation and extra time ended at 4-4.  

Diabate, who scored a hat-trick in the first 90 minutes, had put Mohammedan ahead from the spot in the added time of the first half of the extra time. Mohammedan midfielder Shahriar Emon found Diabate through with a perfectly timed pass before the Malian forward was tripped inside the penalty box by the Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel. Diabate made no mistake as he converted a calmly taken penalty.    

However, a strike from Abahani defender Rahmat Mia from outside the box in the 117th minute once again brought parity in the game, eventually sending the heavily hyped 'clasico' of the country into penalties.    

The regulation time ended in a stalemate, with two sides finding the back of the net thrice. Abahani ended the first-half with a two-goal cushion, with Faisal Ahmed Fahim scoring the opener in 16th minute and Daniel Colindres adding one just minutes before the half-time whistle. 

Mohammedan bounced back in the second-half when their captain Souleymane Diabate scored one in the 54th minute before netting the equaliser six minutes later to spark life into the final in front of a cheerful crowd. 

Emeka Ogbugh of Abahani stretched their lead once again in the 65th minute but Mohammedan captain Diabate completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute as the game ended 3-3 in regulation time.