Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Charles Didier scored twice to cancel out the visitors’ lead on both occasions during regulation time before Nigerian forward Chinedu Mathew sealed the victory in extra time to ensure the hosts’ second final berth in three editions of the tournament
Hosts Chattogram Abahani swept into the final of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup 2019 after coming from behind twice to beat Sree Gokulam Kerala FC 3-2 in a thrilling 120-minute semifinal at M A Aziz Stadium in Chattogram Monday.
Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Charles Didier scored twice to cancel out the visitors’ lead on both occasions during regulation time before Nigerian forward Chinedu Mathew sealed the victory in extra time to ensure the hosts’ second final berth in three editions of the tournament.
The port city club’s head coach, Maruful Haque brought the squad’s national players back into the starting eleven and controlled the game from the beginning creating more chances than the opponents. Gokulam didn’t create enough chances but managed to convert both the chances they made.
The hosts created a couple of chances within the quarter-hour mark. Mathew’s cutback attempted for Arifur Rahman into the middle was cleared by Gokulam goalkeeper Chono Kadavath for a corner in the fourth minute before Luka Totkovic’s shot from the top of the box was blocked by defender Naocha Singh.
Montenegrin striker Luka squandered a great chance in the 19th minute. A precise low cross from young left-back Yeasin Arafat met Rotkovic inside the box but his weak shot failed to test Kadavath.
Kisekka converted Gokulam’s only chance in the opening half at the hour mark. Trinidadian forward Marcus Joseph forwarded a pass to Kisekka, who entered the box and overran a missed tackle of Riyadul Hasan Rafi before firing home at the near post. Kisekka became the top scorer of the meet with five goals.
Chattogram Abahani equalized within a minute into the second half when Ivorian Didier placed a shot past the keeper into the far post after receiving a brilliant through-ball from Arifur.
The visitors took the lead again in the 80th minute and this time, it was Joseph whose powerful left-footed angular shot following Kisekka’s short pass fired over Nehal and into the net.
The scenario changed soon after Maruful introduced fresh pairs of legs in Md Sohel Rana and Kawser Ali Rabbi during the 85th minute and his team started to penetrate the opponent defence more frequently. Sohel, who replaced Rotkovic, assisted Abahani’s equalizer in the 90th minute.
Moments after Didier saw one of his efforts going in vain, the Ivorian restored the parity. Sohel broke into the left side of the box before cutting the ball back to unmarked Didier, who smashed home from the middle of the box.
The game rolled into extra time and Mathew sealed the winner in the 105th minute. Kadavath punched away a cross by Rabbi that fell in the path of Mathew whose initial attempt was cleared off the line before his second effort on rebound, a low header from close range, found the back of the net.
Gokulam’s situation got worsened in the 118th minute when they were reduced to ten men after Kisekka received a straight red card for making a foul on Nehal with his elbow.
Gokulam went all out for an equalizer in the last couple of minutes with their goalkeeper also lending a hand during a set-piece in Chattogram Abahani’s penalty area, but all their efforts went in vain.