MSC go goal crazy
Rampant Mohammedan striker Christian Emeka tries to skip away from the challenge of Brothers Union's Mahammad Adil during their Fed Cup match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Nigerian struck thrice as Mohammedan thumped Brothers 7-1, their worst-ever defeat.Photo: STAR
Nigerian striker Christian Emeka celebrated his return to Mohammedan with a hattrick and confirmed the Black and White's quarterfinal berth in the Federation Cup after crushing Brothers Union by a mammoth 7-1 in Group A encounter at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Apart from Emeka's treble, Zahid Hasan Emily, Zahid Hossain, Alamu Bukola and substitute Alamgir Kabir netted one goal apiece for the Motijheel-based outfit, who raised their points tally to six from two outings with a match in hand against BKSP.
Murad Ahmed Milon scored the lone goal for the Gopibagh-based Brothers Union.
Away at the Bangladesh Army Stadium, newcomers Feni Soccer Club kept their hopes of qualifying the quarterfinals alive with a massive 7-0 win over BKSP, thanks to hattricks from Anwar Hossain and Monamem Khan Raju.
Brothers and Feni are now level with three points each and square off in the crucial last group match to see them in the last eights after the vacation of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Back to the Mohammedan-Brothers match, Mohammedan coach Maruful Haq chose the same eleven that thrashed Feni Soccer Club 4-0 in the opening match and it got off to a sparkling start when Emily with a solo effort darted in the box immediately after kick-off. And three minutes into the first half, the former Abahani striker rose highest to connect an Arman Aziz free kick, but saw his header come off the post.
Surviving from the starting moments, Brothers went on the attack and found the back of the net in the eighth minute when Milon was presented a free header by Sabuj Kumar from the right and the striker nodded the ball home though Mohammedan goalkeeper MN Shakil got a hand to it.
After going down, star-studded Mohammedan stepped up the attack on the rain-socked pitch played at a frenetic pace until the breather.
It was Emily, who struck two goals in his debut match, who levelled the margin in the 20th minute with a soft header after being presented a opportunity from a Zahid cross.
The supplier then turned scorer two minutes later as he put the holders ahead with a cleaver over-head shot after being set up by defensive midfielder Arman Aziz.
Emily was forced to leave the field after 25 minutes after having sustained a muscle cramp that allowed Emeka, who last season played for Abahani and struck 17 goals in B. League, to play the season's first match and saw the formation of a lethal attack with Nigerian Bukola, last season's highest scorer.
Soon Emeka had started to have an impact on the match as Brothers Union, had virtually no resistance in midfield as well as at the backline and sank to a massive defeat.
Emeka's side-volley off a Zahid cross came off the post in the 33rd minute and a few minutes later Bukola sent a 12-yard spot kick wide.
But Emeka made it 3-1 two minutes from the breather with a diving header off a low cross from Wali Faisal, who also looked impressive yesterday compared to his debut match.
After resumption, Maruf sent Rana, who was playing his first match in the top-flight, on the left side in place of Enamul Haq Sharif and the national midfielder impressed all to turn provider for the fourth goal.
Rana dragged a shot from the left and Emeka tapped it from close range in the 58th minute before he himself unleashed a powerful shot inside the box past goalkeeper Jahangir Alam in the 81st minute.
With seven minutes left, Bukola made it 6-1 before Emeka completed his hattrick two minutes from time to add insult to injury.
The result was so embarrassing for the Gopibagh giants that manager Amer Khan and coach Wasim Iqbal both left the field at the end of the game without facing the press.
At Army Stadium, Feni Soccer Club went ahead with a fourth-minute strike from Anwar, who later found the back of BKSP net in the 50th and 58th minute to complete a treble.
Monaem Khan Raju, a winger of Dido's camp, also found the hattrick scoring in the 45th, 53rd and 70th minute. Ashraful Kader Manju struck the other to taste first win after losing to Mohammedan.
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: MN Shakil, Wali Faisal, Nasiruddin, Ariful Islam, Enamul Haq Sharif (Alamgir Kabir Rana), Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, Arman Aziz (Shakil Ahmed), Zahid Hasan Emily (Christian Emeka), Abdul Baten Komol and Alamu Bukola.
BROTHERS: Yousuf Ali Khan, Ripon Khan, Moniruzzaman Mamun, Masud Rana, Lutfur Rahman Nayan (M Adil), Muksudul Alam Bulbul (Tanmoy Hossain), Tavir Ahmed (Didarul Alam), Murad Hossain Milon, Sabuj Kumar, Jahangir Alam and Moussa Fontaine Camara.
Referee: Abdul Hannan Miron
Yellow cards: Zahid Hossain (Mohammedan), Jahangir Alam (Brothers).
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