Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society reached the final of the Federation Cup in its previous edition but fell in the first hurdle this year after losing 1-0 to Chittagong Abahani in their Group C match at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Friday.
Instead, Maruful Haque’s Chittagong Abahani ensured their place in the quarter-finals alongside holder Bashundhara Kings, who beat Rahmatganj 3-0 in their opening match Tuesday at the same venue.
The port city outfit will lock horns with the Kings Monday to decided the group champion and runners-up.
Chittagong Abahani scripted some glorious goal-scoring chances, and once they did go ahead in the half hour mark, they held onto the lead till the end.
Brazilian striker Nixon Guilherme passed to Charles Didier in the 13th minute but Charles shot straight at the Rahmatganj goalkeeper.
Reigning champion Bashundhara Kings kicked off the domestic season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Rahmatganj MFS in the inaugural game of Federation Cup 2020 at Bangabandhu National Stadium Tuesday.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Thursday, 24 December 2020
Rahmatganj defender, Tajikistan’s Dilshod Vasiyev did the same in the 24th minute as his weak shot was gathered safely by the Chittagong Abahani custodian Mohammad Naim.
Chittagong Abahani then took the lead in the 36th minute when Nixon, playing as a No 9 but making his presence felt all over the final third, placed home from a Sohel Rana cross from the left flank.
Rahmatganj meanwhile, went all-out for the equalizer but lacked the killer touch in the final third.
Nixon could’ve extended Chittagong Abahani’s lead but his scrambled effort was parried away by the Rahmatganj netminder in the 71st minute.
Rahmatganj got one final opportunity in the 81st minute to bring parity but Naim fisted away Enamul Islam’s shot.
