Advisory: with photo
Dhaka, Jan 06 (BDNEWS) – A second-half early goal from Emeka took the Mohammedan Sporting Club to the final of the Nitol-Tata Fifth National Football League with a solitary goal victory over holders Brothers Union in the second semfinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Friday.
Nigerian striker Emeka scored the all-important goal in the 47th minute. Capitalizing a back header from skipper Alfaz Ahmed, Mohammedans recruit from Nigeria Emeka took a long-range shot from 35-yard that kissed top of the net of the 'All Orange' outfit goalpost to the cheers of good number of spectators.
The match was marked by incidents at the late end of the match. Brothers official Sabbir Ahmed Arif assaulted the assistant referee Mahbubur Rahman immediately after referee Tayeb Hasan sent off Brothers player Liton showing red card for assaulting the referee.
The incident broke out when the Mohammedans' Asad substituted Francis, during the injury time, but Brothers' Liton protested the time waste during the change of players and physically assaulted referee Taiyeb and assistance referee Mahbubur Rahman.
Liton was sent off and Brothers football committee secretary Sabbir Ahmed Arif attacked assistance referee Mahbubur Rahman for three times amid police guards.
However, referee Taiyeb resumed the match and blew the long whistle after 30 seconds.
After a long three years gap, the spectators will see a much awaiting final battle of two traditional football rivals, the Black & White outfits and the Sky Blue outfit, Sunday at 4:00pm at the same venue.
The league committee made some alternate arrangements to attract more crowds at the stadium. The arrangements include songs programme and cultural show.
The Abahani reached the final beating Muktijoddha Sangsad 2-1 in the second semi-final.
Brothers Union comparatively played better than the Mohammedans, but the Brothers forwards outfit failed to capitalise any match-decider.
Brothers' four foreign recruits -– Moroccan medio Hicham Inani, Nigerian strikers Felix, Paul and medio Jilsan -– showed the vital role to create few scoring-chances, but squandered all of them.
The popular Black & White outfit, on the other hand, launched only three attacks in the entire match and snatched the all-important goal early in the second half.
A powerful-shot from Abul at the top of the box went over the Mohammedans crosspiece in the 19th minute while Brothers' tiny custodian Ali foiled a close-range shot from Francis six minutes later.
After the barren first half, Mohammedans Emeka broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half with a long-range lob, which found the Brothers far-corner net.
After conceding the goal, Brothers made a huge-pressure on Mohammedans defence and eight Mohammedans booters were forced to defend the pressure and came out successfully with the lone goal.
Brothers came close to level the margin in the 62nd minute, but Jilsan, after being set up inside the box by winger Parvez Babu, sent the ball off surprisingly in one-on-one situation against the Mohammedans goalie.
The Mohammedans margin could have been 2-0 but, Brothers goalie Mohammad Ali cleared an Emeka free-kick beyond belief jumping his left side for corner.
Yellow cards: Munna of Mohammedan and Felix of Brothers.
Red card: Liton of Brothers Union.
Mohammedans: Biplob, Mahmudul Hasan, Peter Odaf (Kamal), Nazrul, Rezaul Karim Biplob, Munna, Arman Azizi, Devine, Emeka, Alfaz (Nakib) and Francis (Asad).
Brothers Union: M Ali, Ibnul Siraji (Liton), Mashud Rana, Parvez Babu, M Sujan, Amit Khan Shuvro, Hicham Inani, Abul Hossain, Jislan (Emili), Felix and Paul.
BDNEWS/1944 hrs
