Abahani stumble again as newcomers Chattogram City snatch Fed Cup draw

Heavyweights Abahani’s sluggish start to the season continued as they followed a goalless draw against PWD in the Bangladesh Football League with a 1-1 draw against newcomers Chattogram City FC in their Federation Cup opener at the Birshrestha Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Friday.

Playing without their foreign and SAARC recruits, the Sky Blues still put on a comparatively solid performance against a Chattogram City side that fielded two Nepalese players, alongside one Nigerian and one Japanese recruit.

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After a barren first half, Abahani finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Chasing a long ball down the right flank, Asadul Molla drove into the box and cut the ball back to former national midfielder Rabiul Hasan, who fired a powerful, angled shot from just outside the area to make it 1-0.

However, Abahani could not hold onto their advantage. In the 63rd minute, Chattogram City’s Japanese recruit Kenta Hara unleashed a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box. Abahani goalkeeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom managed to parry the initial effort, but Nigerian forward Raphael Onwrebe was perfectly positioned to tap the rebound in from close range, forcing a share of the spoils.