The popular sky-blue Bangladesh outfit dominated the first half by 2-0 goals. All the stadium gates remained open for the football fans free of cost.
Local striker Nabib Newaz Jiban opened the floodgate in the very 11th minute while Haitian forward Kervans Belfort doubled the margin in the 45+2 minute, medio Jewel Rana scored the 3rd goal in the 63rd minute, Nigerian Sunday Chizoba further widened the margin in the 75th and midfielder Mamunul Islam sealed the fate of the match in the stoppage time (90+5 minute).
In the day’s other Group E match, Chennaiyin FC played to 1-1 draw with their compatriot Minerva Punjab at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati, India.
Samuel Lalmuanpuia scored for Minerva Punjab in the 62nd minute while Mohammad Rafi levelled the margin for Chennaiyin FC in the 90th minute.
With the day’s feat, Dhaka Abahani Limited topped the group list securing 10 points from five matches with three wins, one draw and one loss while win-less Manang Marshyangdi Club of Nepal remained at the bottom in the four-team group with their previous credit of two points from five matches with two draws.
With the day’s draw, the Tamil Nadu-based former Indian Super League champions Channaiyin FC went down to the 2nd slot after Abahani collecting eight points from five matches with two wins, two draws and one loss while Indian I-League champions Minerva Punjab remained at the 3rd slot securing five points from as many matches with five draws.
Hosts Dhaka Abahani started dominating over their Nepali counterparts Manang Marshyangdi within the opening minute of the match with Sunday missing a close chance in the opening minute.
But Jiban did not miss the chance and opened the account for his side in the 11th minute with his right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner (1-0).
In the stoppage time of the first half (45+2), the Dhanmandi-based outfit got the second success when Kervens Belfort doubled the score (2-0).
The Haitian forward buried the ball with his left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner utilising a cross by Mohammad Nabib Newaz Jiban.
In the second half, Abahani made a series of attempt but all were denied by Nepali defenders.
But in the 63rd minute, Jewel Rana successfully broke the Nepali defence and widened the score with his left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner (3-0).
- who was continuously trying to convert a goal, finally got the success in the 75th minute (4-0).
The Nigerian forward netted his second goal of the ongoing event from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom left corner.
Manang made some good attempts but failed to convert any goal.
However, in the stoppage time (90+5 minute), midfielder Mamunul Islam sealed the victory netting the fifth goal of the match (5-0).
Abhani took three replacements. Mamun Miah replaced Sohel Rana, Wali Faisal replaced Masih Saighani and Rubel Miya replaced Jewel Miya while touring Manang Marshyangdi also took three replacements in the game.
The game saw Saheed Oluwasgina Azeez of Manang Marshyangdi getting one yellow card in the 60th minute of the match.
In the remaining group match, Abahani Limited will play Minerva Punjab on June 26 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in India while Manang Marshyangdi will host Chennaiyin FC at ANFA Complex in Kathmandu on the same day.
In their last matches on May 15, Dhaka Abahani Limited defeated Chennaiyin FC by 3-2 goals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium keeping the hope alive to be the group champion while Manang Marshyangdi played to a 1-1 draw with Minerva Punjab at ANFA Complex in Kathmandu.
Dhaka Anahani started the AFC Cup campaign beating Manang Marshyangdi Club by 1-0 goal in their first match in Kathmandu on April 3, but played to 2-2 draw with Minerva Punjab in their second match in Dhaka on April 17.
Dhaka Abahani Limited conceded a 0-1 defeat against Chennaiyin FC in their third match at the Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 30 while Manang Marshyangdi conceded a 0-2 defeat to Chennaiyin FC in the second match on April 17 at the Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad and played to 2-2 draw with Minerva Punjab in their third match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on May 1.
Dhaka Abahani playing XI: Shahidul Alam Sohel (GK & C), Rayhan Hasan, Nabib Newaz Ziban, Tutul Badsha, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Sohel Rana, Sunday Chizoba Nwadialu, Jewel Rana, Masih Saighani, Kervens Belfort, Saad Uddin
Manang Marshyangdi playing XI: Bishal Shrestha(GK), Biraj Maharjan(C), Bishwakarma Suraj, Abhishek Rijal, Bishal Rai, Heman Gurung, Sujal Shrestha, Devendra Tamang, Bimal Rana, Saheed Oluwasgina Azeez, Somide Oluwawunmi Adelaja
Standings of the Group E of the AFC Cup’ 2019 after Thursday’s matches (Tabulating under match played, win, draw, loss, goal for/goal against and points):
Teams MP W D L GF GA GD Pts
Abahani Limited (BAN) 5 3 1 1 11 5 6 10
Chennaiyin FC (IND) 5 2 2 1 6 4 2 8
Minerva Punjab (IND) 5 0 5 0 6 6 0 5
Manang Marshyangdi (NEP) 5 0 2 3 3 11 -8 2