Abahani in inter-zone semis

A last-gasp header from Masih Saighani helped Abahani move into the inter-zonal semi-final playoffs of the AFC Cup as the Sky Blues emerged Group E champions with a 1-0 win away to I-League champions Minerva Punjab in their final group match at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati, Assam yesterday.

With their fourth win in six matches, Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani topped the four-team table with 13 points, two ahead of Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC, who finished second following their 3-2 win over Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi Club.

With all four teams of Group E playing their last match at the same time at two different venues, leaders Abahani had the option of booking their place in the playoffs as south zone champions with a victory over Minerva Punjab, but any result other than a win meant they had to depend on the other result between Chennaiyin FC and Manang Marshyangdi.

But things looked tricky as Abahani were kept at bay by the hosts in normal time while Chennaiyin FC were leading 3-2 against Manang Marshyangdi in Kathmandu.