Mohammedan Sporting Club ended the 2008-09 season on a high when Maruful Haque's side clinched the richest prize ever in the history of domestic football yesterday, beating archrivals Abahani 1-0 in the Citycell Super Cup final.
Before an electrifying crowd at the jam-packed Bangabandhu National Stadium, Nigerian import John Godwin struck the only goal of the match after 21 minutes to sink B. League champions Abahani as Mohammedan took away the Tk one-crore prize money.
Abahani, who suffered their maiden defeat in the competition and also their first loss after a 15-match unbeaten run in the season, settled for the consolation runners-up trophy and a Tk 20 lakh cheque.
In the end, football was the real winner as a 40,000-plus crowd enjoyed the high-voltage drama between the country's top two teams.
It was the highest attendance in a domestic match since the mid 90s and the last time the national number one stadium was brimming with fans was during the 2003 SAFF Football final between Bangladesh and Maldives where the hosts lifted the regional football title.
The battered Mohammedan, with the regular players half fit, and depleted Abahani, missing holding midfielders Joy and Pranotosh, both started with 3-5-2 formations.
However, Abahani suffered the biggest setback when start striker Emily, who was adjudged the most valuable player of the meet to win a mini red car, damaged a hamstring before the match was one-minute old. He finally limped off the ground after 34 minutes but Amalesh Sen's side, who controlled the rest of the show, especially the entire second half, with brilliant build-ups, missed their penalty area specialist very badly.
Abahani though, began brightly and Ibrahim forced a fine save by tournament's best goalkeeper award winner Aminul at his near post in the sixth minute.
Mohammedan fullback Nasir's low cross three minutes later ran harmlessly across the Abahani goal as the lack and Whites threatened to score.
Maruful's midfield kept the pressure as skipper Arman Aziz, Egyptian Hazem Mahmud and Sharif enjoyed superior ball possession and opened the rival defence with a counter attack.
Hazem picked up Alamu Bukola at the right side with an across-the-field lob and the Nigerian dodged past Sujan to cut the ball back for an unmarked Godwin who rifled a shot from 15 yards into Biplab's top right corner.
It was the only shot on rival goal by Mohammedan that eventually sealed the fate of the grand finale.
Abahani, who also lost last year's Federation Cup final to Mohammedan, on penalties, after starting with three-centre backs, never found their natural rhythm in a changed formation that they applied nearly after a year.
Emeka Christian, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals, was wasted as a holding midfielder but once he went up after the resumption, a sky blue tide swelled Mohammedan's goal.
Having wasted four freekicks just outside the opposition area either side of halftime, Abahani came alive stringing passes together and Emeka should have done better than volleying the ball over from close in the 54th minute.
Abul, who replaced Emily, helped on a long ball by Nazrul to the Nigerian who went round a defender but blasted his effort over the unguarded near post.
Two minutes later, Aminul pulled off a spectacular save on Abul's 22-yard shot but it was Dami Emmanuelle, who denied Abahani an equaliser midway through the second half.
Zahed Parvez exchanged passes with Ibrahim to break down the right and his left-footer inside from the area would have not given Aminul any chance, only for Emmanuelle to deflect it to safety from the goalmouth.
Aminul palmed away a Sujan header during a corner in the 76th minute while Emmanuelle once again salvaged the side with a goalline save three minutes later, heading out the ball after Abul nodded Ibrahim's centre from close.
Mohammedan, desperate to hang on to the slim lead, took off both their strikers and fielded defenders Kamal and Saikat but the experience of Rajani and Hassan Al Mamun in addition to Emmanuelle's inspired defending eventually won the game for Mohammedan.
Yellow cards: Robin, Arman, Maruf (Mohammedan) and Ibrahim, Waly (Abahani)
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Aminul, Rajani, Emmanuelle, Hassan Al Mamun, Nasir, Godwin, Sharif (Kamal, 71st), Arman, Hazem, Robin (Maruf, 64th) and Bukola (Saikat, 88th).
ABAHANI: Biplab, Nazrul (Tipu, 67th), Sujan, Samad, Siraji, Zahed, Emeka, Mamun, Waly, Ibrahim and Emily (Abul, 34th).
Referee: Faghani Alireza (Iran)