Mohammedan keep it traditional
Dhaka Mohammedan players celebrate their second goal against their Chittagong namesake in the second semifinal of the Citycell Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Dhaka giants won the match 3-1 to set up a grand final against bitter rivals Abahani on Monday.Photo: STAR
Dhaka Mohammedan made sure that it would be the clash of the traditional rivals in the final of the season's curtain-raising tournament when they handed a 3-1 defeat to their Chittagong namesakes in the second semifinal of the Citycell Federation Cup football tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
For the popular Black & Whites, it was essentially a matter of surviving the initial ten minutes after which they comfortably negotiated their opponents to set up a final date with archrivals Abahani, who confirmed the seat with a 2-0 victory over Farashganj Sporting Club, at the same venue tomorrow.
Mohammedan's Nigerian goal-machine Alamu Bukola slammed his eighth goal of the tournament to take the lead in the first half to leave the die-hard supporters making a lot of noise at the Big Bowl while Mohammad Robin and Egyptian Hazem Khaled added one each after the breather.
Chamrin Rakhain was on target for the Chittagong outfit.
Chittagong Mohammedan started with great pace to test the aging back line of their more celebrated opponents led by Jewel Rana but there was a proven man under the bar who was none other than country's number one custodian Aminul Haque, who foiled several attempts.
The port city side however lost control of the match quickly, especially after the departure of their regular goalie Mamun Khan due to injury, as Dhaka Mohammedan lived up to their reputation as giants.
The Chittagong outfit was close to take the lead in the fifth minute but Aminul brilliantly punched away Nigerian Anthony Pele Doe's powerful shot and they created three more chances at the fault of their opponents defense but failed to capitalise with any of them.
In the 21st minute, Arman Aziz was however unlucky not to put the Dhaka giants ahead as he chipped the ball from the right flank only to see it being kissing away by the crossbar leaving Mamun losing his balance which forced him to leave the ground.
Bukola then erupted the Black & Whites' supporters in the 35th minute when the lanky striker brilliantly headed home an Arman Aziz free-kick. The lead could have been double if Robin had not failed to connect on a Bukola cross four minutes from the break.
The favourites took only four minutes in the second half to double the lead when a Robin cross kissed the net while fragile Chittagong substitute custodian Uttam, who later however foiled an attempt of Sharif, misjudged the flight.
Chittagong Mohammedan however pulled back a goal in the 70th minute when Chamrin headed on a Lincon cross to reach home but Hazem scored the third goal for the Motijheel side aided by Bukola after two minutes to deny any fightback of their opponents in the uneven surface.
TEAMS
Dhaka Mohammedan: Aminul, Hasan Al Mamun, Rajani, Jewel, Arman, Sharif, Faisal, Nasir, Hazem, Bukola (Ronny) and Robin (Komol).
Chittagong Mohammedan: Mamun (Uttam), Shawkat, Prodip, Dhiman, Khan Sharif, Linkon, Anthony (Chamrin), Doulat, Touhidul, Ridon and Tuckile.
Referee: Tayeb Hassan.
Yellow cards: Hazem (Dhaka Mohammedan), Prodip and Anthony (Chittagong Mohammedan).
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