Mohammedan ride on Bukola brace

Mohammedan's two-goal Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola (C) races past a sliding tackle by a Muktijoddha defender during their Federation Cup quarterfinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Mohammedan were on full throttle on way to the semifinals of the Citycell Federation Cup when the black and whites dumped 2005 runners-up Muktijoddha Sangsad out of the competition with a 2-0 victory in yesterday's second quarterfinal.
Alamu Bukola's early strikes -- the Nigerian forward's seventh goal in three appearances -- settled the issue for Mohammedan, whose opponents of the last four will be the winners of tomorrow's quarterfinal between BKSP and Chittagong Mohammedan.
Like the previous match, Mohammedan came close to take lead with their first attack but Robin sidevolleyed wide after meeting a cross by overlapping right fullback Nasir in the fourth minute before a 5,000-strong crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Robin then set Bukola's first goal four minutes later with a precise low cross from the right and Nigerian needed a simple tap to put the ball beyond Nizam at the Muktijoddha goal.
Struggling giants Muktijoddha were understrength without injured skipper Titu and his absence told in the defence as the black and whites got their second goal with their next foray in the 21st minute.
This time, Egyptian midfielder Hazem Khaled showed his nimble footwork at the left to dodge his marker Rony and cut the ball back to Bukola on the edge of the penalty area. The Mohammedan No. 10, who slotted a hattrick in the previous match against Arambagh, coolly placed the ball into Nizam's near post.
Nizam made a fine save on the brink of the breather when he tipped out Rajani's long range drive but Mohammedan seemed to enjoy the two-goal cushion so much that they simply did not turn up after the resumption. Even three changes by coach Maruful Haque were not enough to inspire them play like the first half.
After Arman Aziz fired the ball wide of Nizam's upright in the 51st minute, it were all Reds. But Kanchan twice failed to get to the right position to waste Nigerian striker Ikedinachi's hard work.
A couple of changes in the midfield -- Tajul for Asif and Sentu in place of Jalaluddin -- gave Muktijoddha an edge and they created a series of shooting opportunities.
With Mohammedan's three veteran centre-backs -- captain Jewel Rana, Hassan Al Mamun and Rajani who were part of Bangladesh's gold winning team in the 1999 SAF Games -- looking rather slow, Sentu, Tajul and Ikedinachi took five attempts on Aminul's goal but all the efforts went astray.
Before being replaced, Kanchan fluffed the easiest chance to bring Muktijoddha back when the former national striker nodded a centre by Tajul over the open net barely from eight yards.
Mohammedan's only real chance of the half went to Komol but the substitute's first-time shot on a pass by Bukola gave Nizam no trouble at all.
Tajul should have reduced the arrears two minutes from time when the shaven-headed midfielder dribbled past three defenders but he wasted valuable seconds as his placing shot was palmed away by an advancing Aminul.
National custodian Aminul was almost embarrassed in the 90th minute when he lost an angled drive by Ikedinachi off his chest but harmlessly, the ball missed the mark by inches.
On a rather quiet night, Kanchan was the only player to be booked by referee Azad Rahman.