Muktis survive Feni scare

Bangladesh League leaders Muktijoddha Sangsad survived a from scare to beat Feni Soccer Club 2-1 in Group C opener of the Independence Cup football tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
James Moga and Alamu Bukola Olaleken struck one goal apiece for Muktijoddha Sangsad while Dominic Kabuya scored the solitary goal for Feni.
Most of Muktijoddha's attacks came through Nigerian winger Bukola, who kept changing flank with Mithun Chowdhury while Moga played as a lone striker.
Muktis took the lead from one such attack in the 21st minute when Bukola ran down the right to enter Feni box before being brought down by Cameroonian Jean Eric. Moga stepped up and duly dispatched the ball on the back of the net with a low drive.
But, Feni Soccer Club, buoyed by the inclusion of three new signings from Nigeria and Cameroon made their illustrious opponents sweat.
Feni stepped up the attack after the breather and found the equaliser from a spot-kick in the 55th minute. Nigerian Rowland Ekechukwe was tackled from behind by Muktis defender Dami Emmanuel inside the danger zone. Ugandan striker Kabuya converted the penalty to equalise.
But their joy lasted only seven minutes as Bukola availing a throughpass from Moga advanced into the box, shrugged off his marker and fired home from the right-side into the back of the net.
Feni were then denied an equaliser when Touhidul Alam's effort rattled the crossbar in the 65th minute. Few moments later he again came close to levelling the margin, but this time goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee foiled the powerful shot taken from the top of the box.
Touhidul proved unlucky again as his header came off post in the stoppage time of the second half depriving Feni of any points.