Brothers confirm Super Cup berth

Brothers Union's Brazilian playmaker Everton Souza (2nd from L) is the toast of his teammates as his brace confirmed a 2-1 win over Rahmatganj MFS in their Bangladesh League fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Brothers Union confirmed their Super Cup berth with a 2-1 win over Rahmatganj MFS in the Bangladesh League fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, thanks of a double-strike from Brazilian playmaker Everton Souza.
The eighth win in 20 matches pushed Brothers to the fifth position with 29 points, five ahead of seventh-placed Rahmatganj are out of Super Cup contention with only 24 points and a match left to play.
The outcome not only ensured the Orange's Super Cup berth but also took Mohammedan along with them in the six-team Super Cup as the Black and Whites who have 29 points from 21 matches.
Rahmatganj, who were recently hit by match-fixing allegations after a controversial 5-2 defeat at the hands of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, finished the first-leg staying in the fourth position with 16 points but they failed to keep up the momentum in the second leg losing five out of 10 matches they played.
Rahmatganj coach Ali Ashgar Nasir claimed that the lack of practice in the second leg cost them dearly as officials of Rahmatganj were reluctant with the team's practice but were seemingly serious in interfering into his works.
Asked about the match-fixing allegation against Sheikh Jamal, Nasir said they would only speak about it after their last match against Muktijoddha.
Back to the game, the players of the both sides seemed to struggle to take control on a soggy pitch. However, Brothers took the lead in the 28th minute when midfielder Kabir played Everton on the right and the Brazilian playmaker raced into the danger zone to drive an angular shot past Rahmatganj goalkeeper Iran Sheikh. Rahmatganj though hit back in the second half through Idris Kasirye, who converted a spot-kick after he was tackled from behind by Brothers defender Tara inside the danger zone in 53rd minutes.
Everton though made sure of all three points, and more importantly Super Cup qualification, in the 69th minute as he broke an off-side trap to beat goalkeeper Iran to placing the ball at the far post.