Chittagong Abahani won the historic first-ever major domestic soccer title by clinching the KFC Independence Cup after shocking their seniors and giant Dhaka Abahani Limited by 2-0 goals in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.
It is the first major domestic crown for Ctg Abahani after winning the Sheikh Kamal International Football title on home soil last year after beating Kolkata East Bengal Club by 3-1 goals in the final. They also beat Dhaka Abahani by 1-0 goal on way to final of the tournament.
After the barren first half in the day’s final of the season curtain raiser soccer meet, Haitian forward Leonel Preux and Rubel Miah scored one each for the port city team with frustration of sky-blue popular Dhanmondi outfit, which had long been suffering from trophy drought last five years.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Dr Biren Sikder witnessed the final as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes.
Champions Chittagong Abahani received a prize money of Tk 5,00,000 while runners-up Dhaka Abahani got Tk 3,00,000.
Haitian forward Leonel Preux of Chittagong Abahani was adjudged the most valuable player of the tournament while Rubel Miah of the same team named as the best player of the match to receive Tk 25,000 each.
Eleta Kingsley of BJMC, Sunday Chizoba of Dhaka Ahahani and Fikru Sheikh Russel KC named as the highest scorers of the meet making six goals each to receive Tk 25,000 each.
Ctg Abahani coach Jozef Pavlik named as the best coach of the tournament.
In the day’s final, Hitian forward Leonel Praux put Ctg Abahani ahead in the 55th minute of the match by a neat placing shot to open net after beating his marker and later Abahani custodian Sultan Ahmed Shakil off a through pass of Rubel Mia (1-0).
Rubel Mia doubled the margin for Ctg Abahani in the 61st minute by a bicycle kick utilising a cross of midfielder Kawshick Barua from the right flank (2-0).
Earlier in the 13th minute, Abahani’s Senegalese forward Camara Sarba sent the ball went wide from vintage position.
Ctg Abahani made a good chance to take lead in the 26th minute but unmarked Rezaul Karim’s shot on a free-kick of Zahid Hossain, missed the target.
Ctg Abhani’s Haitian forward Leonel Preux broke into the penalty area, rounded off a defender but his final shot was blocked by a defender for a corner in the 43rd minute.
In the 44minute, Ctg Abahani’s midfielder Rubel Mia’s strike into the near post was saved by Abahani keeper Sultan Ahmed Shakil.
Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba squandered a chance to reduce the margin in the 75th minute when his shot straight to the opponent goalie Ashraful Islam Rana.
