Enamul fires Farashganj
Farashganj's two-goal hero Enamul controls the ball between Arambagh players Turjo (L) and Akram (R) during the first quarterfinal of the Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Photo: Banglarchokh.com
A brace by Enamul Haque fired Farashganj Sporting Club into the semifinals of the Citycell Federation Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Arambagh Krira Sangha at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Farashganj maintained their impressive run in the first quarterfinal after three wins in as many group matches although the riversiders from old Dhaka survived an early wake up call.
Arambagh came close to open the scoring after five minutes but Surat nodded a corner by Monu onto the crosspiece.
Khokon Das then unleashed one of his trademark pile drivers from the top of the box in the 13th minute but a full-stretched Piru's acrobatic work at the Arambagh goal kept the scoreline at 0-0.
Inform Enamul, however, broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. The former Muktijoddha striker, who has scored in Farashganj's all matches in the final round so far, chased a lob by Yusuf and beat onrushing keeper Piru with an overhead shot.
After scoring one goal each against Khulna Abahani, Wanderers and Muktijoddha, it was Enamul's fourth goal.
Khokon Das and substitute Faisal should have put Farashganj further ahead but both missed sitters to give Arambagh chances to come back.
However, Nigerian forward Jerry Odesco Weah's poor marksmanship cost Arambagh perhaps a place in the last four. The foreign recruit alone fluffed three chances as Arambagh failed to equalise in the 90 minutes and let their opponents seal victory in injury time.
It was Enamul, who again found the mark when he headed home a long freekick from the right side by Arafat Rony.
It was the second time Farashganj reached the semifinal of the Federation Cup. The first time they reached the last four in 2000 ended up with a defeat to the same Arambagh.
Farashganj will now take on winners' of tomorrow's quarterfinal between local giants Abahani and Sheikh Russel in the first semifinal on August 29.
The second semifinal will be played on August 30 where winners of today's Mohammedan-Muktijoddha clash face BKSP or Chittagong Mohammedan.
The final is slated for September 1.
The semifinals and the final will kick off at 5pm.
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