BKSP, Russel in last 8

BKSP broke the monopoly of the B. League teams to enter the knockout stage of the Citycell Federation Cup while defending champions Brothers Union crashed out of the competition on a tense final day of the group stage yesterday.
BKSP emerged Group C champions with seven points when a brace by Sabuj ensured the Savar sports institute's 2-1 win over Victoria Sporting Club at Gazipur Stadium.
Sheikh Russel joined BKSP as runners-ups with six points when they edged Brothers by a solitary goal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Brothers, who began the group finale with four points -- one ahead of Russel -- and needed only a draw to qualify for the quarterfinals, were shocked by a 52nd minute freekick by Moroccan midfielder Ezzanzoun Said.
The last eight lineups pitted four Dhaka giants against each other while BKSP drew Chittagong Mohammedan. Farashganj and Arambagh will battle it out in today's first quarterfinal clash.
Although it was expected of the Bangladesh Football Federation to hasten the start of the games, everyone was surprised by the 6pm kick-offs.
BKSP, who upset Russel 1-0 in the group opener after qualifying with an unbeaten record, held Brothers 0-0 to all but ensure their place in the quarters.
In the final game, the students of country's lone sport and educational establishment lived up to their billing by taking a 2-0 lead against the Senior Division side.
Sabuj opened the scoring after ten minutes and sealed the victory four minutes before halftime. Ripon reduced the arrears for all-losing Victoria in the 85th minute.
In Dhaka, Brothers and Russel spent a lacklustre first half but as soon as they heard the news of BKSP's win away in Gazipur, the match became alive.
Farhad miskicked a chance in the 48th minute after being set by Arup, giving Russel custodian Titu no trouble at all. Manju headed home three minutes later but the Brothers striker's effort was disallowed for offside, only to inspire the rivals to win a freekick at the right side in the very next minute.
Said took a curling shot from a tight angle which beat his stretching teammates and the struggling Brothers backline to stun goalkeeper Zia for the match winner.
Brothers went all out but their ageing defence often gave away on counter attacks.
Touati Youness came close to double the lead in the 65th minute but the Russel's Moroccan captain lost possession after Mobarak's dashing run on the break.
Farhad was in the centre of the Oranges attacks but he failed to meet a cross by Manju and fired the ball onto a defensive wall inside the next ten minutes.
Substitutes Abdullah Parvez and Zahid Hossain kept Wasim Iqbal's side alive but luck was not with the 2005 champions.
Parvez drove a 30-yard freekick just wide while Zahid's brilliant run down the right was wasted as his accurate pass was fluffed by Mishu, whose first time effort from five yards went straight to the keeper's hands with ten minutes remaining.
Alfaz should have done better when Tanvir cut the ball back from left but the veteran former international striker made a mess off the opportunity.
Russel's defensive shell proved too tight in the dying minutes when Brothers survived two certain send-offs. Skipper Shuvra committed his second bookable offence inside one minute after being cautioned but referee Abdul Hannan Miron overlooked a tackle by the defender who was the last man. Then goalkeeper Zia was given only a yellow when he handled the ball outside his area to stop a solo run by Youness.