Smooth sailing for giants
Holders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, along with title contenders Abahani, booked their quarterfinal seats in the Grameenphone Federation Cup after beating their respective rivals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club handed an emphatic 4-0 defeat to Noakhali Football Academy and the result put Muktijoddha Sangsad KS into the quarterfinals from Group B. The two giants will now face each other in the group-deciding match on Saturday after Noakhali FA were eliminated from the tournament with two successive defeats.
Abahani managed to notch a 2-0 win over Rahmatganj MFS to ensure their quarterfinal berths from Group C with two successive wins but the title contenders put up a dispirited show, despite fielding Brazilian Welliton Santana, who remained anonymous throughout the game.
“He (Santana) is an attacking midfielder but I played him as a striker today. He is a good player but he needs some time to develop an understanding with the local players. However, I think he will be playing better once our Ghanaian players join us before the third match against Brothers Union,” said Abahani coach Amalesh Sen after the game.
Rahmatganj MFS, who were relegated from the Bangladesh Premier League last season, held their mighty opponents till the first half before a reorganised Abahani struck two goals inside four minutes in the second half to negotiate a potential banana skin.
Rahmatganj goalkeeper Masum denied Shakhawat Hossain Rony one minute into the second half but the goalkeeper could not stop the same hitman eight minutes later as the Chittagonian striker put it past Masum with an angular grounder after being set up by substitute winger Towhidul Alam. Abahani doubled the margin in the 57th minute with Brazilian Santana sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot after Wali Faisal was brought down by Rahmatganj defender Razib.
Back to the second match, Sheikh Jamal, playing their first match in the tournament, impressed with their crisp passing and planned attacks through two wings under the guidance of Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi. They took just 14 minutes to open the account after Mike Otojareri rattled the crosspiece in the very fourth minute. Midfielder Alamgir Kabir Rana hammered a powerful shot outside the danger area past Noakhali FA goalkeeper Shuvro after availing a nice cut-back from winger Shakil Ahmed.
Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba, who initially came here to play for Sheikh Jamal two seasons ago but found no place before being roped in this season, then struck twice in quick succession. The emphatic win was then wrapped up by Shakil who scored a fine side volley.
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