MSC start winning

Mohammedan midfielder Zahid Hasan (L) leaps to head the ball ahead of a Feni Soccer Club defender during their Citycell Bangladesh League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Photo: STAR

Mohammedan Sporting Club got their bid to win the elusive professional football league title off to a winning start when the Federation Cup champions handed an easy 3-0 defeat to newcomers Feni Soccer Club in the Bangladesh League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Defender Hasan Al Mamun, midfielder Zahid Hossain and striker Zahid Hasan Emily scored one goal apiece for the Black and Whites although their performance was not so impressive compared to the showings in the season's curtain-raising Federation Cup.
True that they were not up to the mark in the opening match of the renamed B. League, they still never looked losing points against a side they routed twice in the Federation Cup, first 4-0 and then 3-0.
Even the margin could have been wider had Abdul Baten Komol, who replaced fever-hit striker Alamu Bukola, not missed a couple of easy chances in the first half.
The Motijheel-based outfit took 22 minutes to take their first shot on target. Nigerian Emeka Christian curled a beautiful left-footer from the left for Komol, whose side volley went inches over the Feni crosspiece much to the relief of the visitors, who had the first shot on target on the half-hour mark when Ashraful Kader Manju dragged a shot straight to goalkeeper MN Shakil, who returned under the Mohammedan bar after missing the last three matches of the Federation Cup duo to shaky performance.
Mohammedan however went ahead in the 38th minute capitalising on a fumble from goalkeeper Golam Mustafa Tuhan, who failed to grip a high cross from Nasir and Hasan Al Mamun tapped the ball home from close.
Midfielder Enamul Haq Sharif took the position of injured Mohammedan captain Arman Aziz, but he could hardly inspire others and the opponents controlled the midfield for the rest of the first half. But they were kept at bay by the strong Mohammedan backline manned by Hasan Al Mamun, Nasir, Wali Faisal and Ariful Islam, the most valuable player of the Federation Cup.
After resumption, the Black and Whites created more chances and could cash in on only two of those and Emily struck the woodwork early in the second half.
Speedy winger Zahid, who looked unimpressive in the game, doubled the Mohammedan advantage when Emeka cut the ball back to Zahid, who suddenly took a powerful drive from the edge of the right side of the box and saw his one-bounce shot kiss the Feni net hitting the sidebar.
Four minutes later, Feni Soccer Club nearly conceded an own goal when defender Mintu Sheikh attempted to clear a Mamunul Islam free kick only to see his header hit the crossbar.
Mohammedan could have taken a 3-0 lead in the 76th minute, but Zahid, instead of passing the ball to a free Emily, struck to the post only to be denied by goalkeeper Tuhan.
With 10 minutes left, Mohammedan stepped up the attack by bringing in Shakil Ahmed and Alamgir Rana in two wings and went close to widening the margin, but Emily saw his overhead shot fly just over the crosspiece in the 83rd minute.
The national striker, however, did seal the match striking his league's first and season's eighth goal five minutes from time. Mamunul Islam curled a free kick from the right and Arif's header was denied by Tuhan and Emily headed home the rebounder from close.
Mohammedan coach Maruful Haq thought that his charges could not perform well because they were still recovering from the hangover of the Federation Cup and hoped that things would get better in the matches to come.
Despite losing to Moha-mmedan for the third time this season, Feni coach Zahidur Rahman Milon was happy with the performance his boys put on. But he thought the goals his side conceded was due to poor refereeing and demanded neutral refereeing in the next matches.
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Shakil, Wail Faisal, Ariful Islam, Hasan Al Mamun, Nasir, Enamul Haq Sharif, Abdul Baten Komol (Shakil Ahmed), Zahid Hossain (Alamgir Kabir), Mamunul Islam, Christina Emeka and Zahdi Hasan Emily.
FENI SOCCER CLUB: Golam Mostafa Tuhan, Nurul Amin Shipon, Mintu Sheikh, Mostafa Kaba, Abu Sufian Zahid, Akramuzzaman, Monayem Khan Raju, Asif Yousuf, Emrul Hasan, Ashraful Kader Manju (Tabith Awal).
Yellow cards: Liton, Raju (Feni Soccer)
Referee: Shahidur Rahman Lalu.