Muktis edge into semifinals

THIS ONE IS VITAL: Muktijoddha's Mithun Chowdhury (L) rushes to congratulate his striking partner Alamu Bukola Olaleken after the Nigerian scored the winner against Sheikh Rusel Krira Chakra in the final group league match of the Grameenphone Super Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Reds won the match 2-1. Photo: STAR

Sports Reporter
Striking duo Alamu Bukola Olaleken and Mithun Chowdhury struck again to take 10-man Muktijoddha Sangsad to the semifinals of the Grameenphone Super Cup with a 2-1 win over Sheikh Russel KC in the final Group B match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The triumph meant that Muktijoddha emerged as group champions with four points from two outings to set up a semifinal clash against Abahani while Mohammedan reached the last four as group B runners-up with two points from as many games and will now face Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
Sheikh Russel went ahead in the 33rd minute with a strike from Effiong Duke before Bukola levelled the margin in stoppage time of the first half while national striker Mithun sealed the match in the 67th minute.
Keeping in mind that an outright win would put them into the last four, Sheikh Russel dominated the show from the outset and came close to taking a lead in the very fourth minute when their Nigerian Duke, availing a fumble from a Muktijoddha defender, advanced into the box and beat goalkeeper Mamun Khan but also the post.
He did make amends soon after though, finding the goal to give Sheikh Russel a deserved lead on the half-hour mark. National midfielder Monaem Khan Raju put a forward-pass to an unmarked Duke who made no mistake to beat Biplob Bhattacharjee with a fierce drive from inside the box.
Muktijoddha Sangsad bit back almost immediately when left-back Nasir Chowdhury ran down the flank, danced past two defenders inside the danger zone but failed to keep his shot on target much to the relief of national number two goalkeeper Mamun Khan.
But their fighting spirit was rewarded sooner rather than later and they scored in stoppage time of the first half to go to the break level.
Mithun, the second top scorer of the Bangladesh League having struck 16 goals, played a fine one-two with Matiur Munna to enter the box. Drawing two defenders towards him Munna cut it back from the touchline and an unmarked Mithun placed the cut-back home to level the margin.
After the resumption, Sheikh Russel stepped up their attack and kept creating chances one after another through both flanks but it was Duke who was mostly blamed for not finding the opponent nets as the Nigerian hitman completed a miserable second half by squandering four opportunities.
On the other hand, Muktijoddha took the lead against the run of play as Maruf whirled in a free-kick from the right which was diverted onto the post by an outstretched Munna leg and then fell kindly to Bukola, who coolly smashed a grounder with his left foot to give the Reds the lead in the 67th minute.
After conceding the second, Sheikh Russel went all out for an equaliser but they unfortunately failed to do so courtesy of Duke's profligacy and some brave saves from national number one Biplob Bhattacharjee. Sheikh Russel even failed to cash in on Muktijoddha's misfortune of having Maruf Ahmed sent off for second bookable offence.
Meanwhile, Muktijoddha too could have widened the margin through some counterattacks but both Mithun and Bukola missed gilt edged opportunities.
TEAMS
MUKTIJODDHA SANGSAD: Biplob Bhattacharjee, Rajani Kanta Barmon, Motiur Munna, Mithun Chowdhury (Zohirul Islam), Alamu Bukola Olaleken, Yamin Ahmed Munna, Arman Aziz (Zahed Parvez Chowdhury), Emanuel Dami, Maruf Ahmed, Nasir Chowdhury, Anisur Rahman Sweet and Mohammad Rony (Alamgir Rana).
SHEIKH RUSSEL: Mamun Khan, Aminul Islam, Prodip Barua, Kabir Bappi, Abass Inusha, Moro Mohammad, Mezbabul Haque Manik, Monaem Khan Raju, Mohammad Yousuf (Emon Mahmud Babu), Effiong Duke (Wahed Ahmed) and Bangoura Ismail.
Yellow: Arman Aziz of Muktijoddha, Red: Maruf of Muktijoddha
Referee: Abdul Hannan Miron