Dhaka, March 20 (BDNEWS) – Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Mohammedan SC booked their semifinal berth in the Independence Day Gold Cup Football tournament beating their respective rivals in Group A at Bangabandhu National Stadium Sunday.
Mukijoddha Sangsad KC got a gifted 2-1 victory over Arambagh KS while Mohammedan SC registered a hard fought 4-3 win over Sheikh Russel KC in the second encounter at the same venue.
At the day's first match, Rokonuzzaman Khanchan and Charles Ghansa struck one each goal for Muktijoddha SKC while Murad Ahmed Milon netted the lone goal for Arambagh KS.
Muktijoddha SKC won the match but Arambagh KS, who were crashed 0-4 by Mohammedan SC in the tournament opener, dominated the entire time of the match and it seemed that Arambagh intentionally conceded defeat in the match-decider in the dieing moment of match.
The freedom fighter team Muktijoddha went ahead in the very fifth minute with a spectacular header from Khanchan (1-0) following a left flack free-kick off left stopper Titu.
But, the fans of Muktijoddha SKC could not cheers so much as four minutes later guest player Murad Ahmed Milon sent the ball over rushing Muktis goalie Aminul Haq from outside of the box to equal the Arambagh margin (1-1).
Arambagh could have doubled the margin in the 75th minute, but striker Milon squandered a sitter from the goalmouth mele as the Mukis country's number one goalie saved the Milon effort from the goalline and defender Belal frustrated Arambagh to clear it.
Two minutes later, Muktis captain cum keeper Aminul Islam again saved his side to resist an angular shot of Arambagh's striker Ritu from inside the box at the cost of corner.
When everyone thinks that Arambagh KS are certainly getting a point from the match after Farashganj did so against Brothers Union Saturday, substitute Shariar Abdullah Rintu, who entered the field just before closing the match, intentionally stopped a Belal's long-throw with his stretching hand inside the box in injury time.
Referee Shahidul Islam Bachchu did not hasitate to whistle for penalty corner and Muktis Ghanaian defender Charles Ghansa easily convert it for the match-winner.
In the day's second match, about three thousand spectators enjoyed the attacking football between Mohammedan SC and Sheikh Russel KC.
However, the premier league runners-up Sheikh Russel KC, who lost to Muktijoddha SKC by 1-3, played comparatively well than the Motijheel outfit.
The popular Black and Whit outfit went ahead in the very fifth minute as the veteran striker Nakib put the ball over the advancing Russel's goalie Apel utilizing a loose ball (1-0).
Two minutes later, Moroccan striker Ighir Mohammad equalized the Russel margin with a beautiful left-footer from outside the box to stun the Mohammedan's supporters (1-1).
The diminutive striker Alfaz Ahmed then increased the Mohammedan SC margin with a sudden shot from 30-yards to go into breather with a 2-1 lead.
Sheikh Russel KC again leveled the margin as Moroccan striker Rashid struck his first goal after dodging past a Mohammedan defender from a counter attack in the 50th minute (2-2).
Three minutes later, Nakib frustrated the Motijheel based Mohammedan SC to squander a penalty kick awarded by referee Ram Khrisna Ghos as Russel's defender Prodeep charged roughly Kim Zeu inside the box.
Sheilk Russel KC enjoyed a 3-2 lead in the 58th minute with Rashid scoring his second goal utilizing a back pass of Mohammedan defender Kamal.
Two minutes later Mohammedan bounced back to level the margin with an accurate header by Motiur Munna off Zeu flag kick.
Mohammedan striker Nakib sealed the fate of the match off heading home in the 80th minute utilizing a flag kick of Zeu.
BDNEWS/2011 hrs
