In their last Group Eencounter, a suicidal goal by Brazilian defender Wellington Priori forcedthe Dhanmondi-based outfit to concede a 0-1 defeat at the Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 30.
The defeat forced Abahani to the 2nd slot in the four-team group with four points from three matches with one win, one draw and one loss. Channaiyin FC, on the other hand, reached the top of the group with an unbeaten run securing seven points from three matches with two wins and a draw.
Abahani, six-time Bangladesh Professional Football League champions, will have to win the next match to keep their hopes alive in AFC Cup.
They have failed to score enough in their Group E matches despite having a good attacking side. They netted three goals and concededas many in their last three games.
Abahani coach Mario Lemos said that the team is nevertheless confident.
“We didn’t do well in India. We played well there but we lost the match. But, we’ll do better in this game,” he told a pre-match press conference at BFF house on Tuesday.
He said they would follow a very simple plan by playing attacking football and avoiding mistakes.
Abahani’s key booter Nabib Newaz Ziban is also confident. “We’ve done a lot of work on our mistakes. Tomorrow we’ll try to win,” he said.
On the other hand, Chennaiyin FC’s goal difference stands at +3 with their three goals in as many Group E matches.
After a goalless draw (0-0 ) with Minerva Punjab on April 3, theydefeated Manang Marshyangdi of Nepal by 2-0 goals on April 17 at the Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Chennaiyin’s English head coach John Charles Gregory said that the match will be tough but they will try hard to win.
In the AFC Club Ranking 2019, Dhaka Abahani are in the 110th slot with 8.59 points while Chennaiyin FC are in the 98th slot with 10.61 points.
Abahani are participating in their third AFC campaign since 2017 but it is Chennaiyin FC’s maiden appearance.
Dhaka Abahani Limited successively won country’s one of the prestigious football competition Federation Cup title for three times since 2016.
In the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, Dhaka Abahani are in the second slot with 33 points from their thirteen matches with eleven wins and two losses while the Indian side ended their Indian Super League season remaining at the bottom-place in the 10-team league earning 9 points from eighteen games with two wins, three draws and thirteen losses.
The game will kick off at 7pm. Bangladesh Football Federation has announced free entry for all supporters.
In the day’s other match, Nepalese champions Manang Marshyangdi will host Minerva Punjab at 3:30pm at ANFA Complex in Kathmandu.
In the next Group E matches, Abahani will take on Manang Marshyangdi on June 19 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium and play Minerva Punjab on June 26 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.
Dhaka Abahani: Shahidul Alam Sohel (C), Raihan Hasan, Nabib Newaz Ziban, Waly Faisal, Sunday Chizoba, MasihSaighani, Kervens Belfort, Wellington Priori, Jewel Rana, Rubel Miya, Mamun Miah, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Imtiaz Sultan Jitu, Sohel Rana, Pranotosh Kumar Das, Mamunul Islam, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Topu Barman, Saad Uddin, Nayeem Mia, Sultan Ahmed Shakil, Faisal Ahmed, Hafizur Rahman, Mohammad Ridoy, Dipok Roy, Mohammad Rony, Ariful Islam, Syed Arafat Hossain Tasin.
Standings of the Group E of AFC Cup 2019: (Tabulating under match played, win, draw, loss, goal for/goal against and points)
Teams MP W D L GF GA P
Chennaiyin FC (IND) 3 2 1 0 3 0 7
Abahani Limited Dhaka (BAN) 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
Minerva Punjab (IND) 3 0 3 0 4 4 3
Manang Marshyangdi Club (NEP) 3 0 1 2 2 5 1