Abahani crashes out of AFC Cup
The Bangladesh Premier League Champions lost to April 25 SC 2-0 in Pyongyang on Wednesday to crash out of the AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinals.
So, in the end, it’s not a fairy tale. Dhaka Abahani Limited have lost 2-0 against April 25 SC and crashed out of the AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinals as the aggregate score was 5-4 in favor of the North Koreans.
Abahani had played brilliantly in their home match last week where they beat the North Korean club 4-3. But it was expected that the Pyongyang club would be better on home soil and they were.
Abahani put up a solid fight in the first half as it ended goallessly and a little hope was growing. But Kim Yu-song scored on the 48th minute to give the North Koreans advantage on away goals. Abahani’s hopes were almost finished when defender Mamun Mia was sent off and were completely extinguished when Kim scored his second to push April 25 into a 5-4 lead on aggregate.
A home result with fewer goals conceded would have taken the Dhanmondi-based club through, but as it wasn’t the matter, the team now comes back home with their hopes diminished.
