Abahani kicked off their Federation Cup journey impressively by defeating Young Men’s Fakirerpool Club 4-2 in a Group A match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena. Captain Soleymane Diabate and young striker Sheikh Morsalin each scored twice to secure a strong win for the Sky Blues, who were the runners-up last season.
The excitement began early in the game, with Abahani taking the lead in the fifth minute from a penalty kick. Diabate was fouled by the Fakirerpool goalkeeper after a pass from Jafar Iqbal, and the Malian forward calmly converted the penalty to put his team ahead 1-0.
Fakirerpool came close to equalizing in the 14th minute, but Mustafa Kaharba’s shot hit the post, denying them a goal and providing relief for Abahani.
Morsalin showcased his skill in the 33rd minute, doubling Abahani’s lead with a well-executed goal after a brilliant play with Diabate. Diabate then extended the lead further in the 39th minute with another penalty goal, putting Abahani firmly in control.
Fakirerpool managed to pull one back in the 57th minute through Shanto Tudu’s impressive strike from outside the box, making the score 3-1. However, Abahani quickly responded in the 63rd minute, as Al Amin assisted Morsalin in scoring his second goal of the day, restoring the three-goal lead.
Despite the efforts of the underdogs, Mohammad Riyad scored for Fakirerpool in the 69th minute, narrowing the gap. Abahani had a chance to score their fifth goal in the 79th minute, but Morsalin missed the opportunity to complete his hat-trick.
In another Group A match of the day, Rahmatganj and Brothers Union ended in a goalless draw.