Gafurov steers Kings

Title aspirants Bashundhara Kings survived a couple of late scares to make a winning start to the Federation Cup, beating newcomers Fortis FC 2-0 in a Group B encounter at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj yesterday.

Bashundhara Kings, who had pulled out of Federation Cup last season citing the poor condition of the astro-turf in Kamalpur, made eight changes to the team that beat Fortis FC in a league encounter on Friday.

But the second-string eleven sans the team's three Brazilians -- Robson Da Silva, Dorielton Gomes and Miguel Ferereira -- hardly posed any threat in the first half, forcing coach Oscar Bruzon to bring on all three Brazilians as well as two other sets of fresh legs.

Those changes made the difference for the Independence Cup champions. Uzbek midfielder Asror Gafurov struck twice between late scares from Fortis, who came out of their shell as they looked to cancel out a 53rd-minute nod from Gafurov.

Kings' second-choice goalkeeper Hamidur Rahman Rimon denied Mojibur Rahman Jonny in the 78th minute with a nice save, bravely gripping a close-range shot, before defender Yeasin Arafat made an inch-perfect tackle as Brazilian forward Luis Junior broke into the box with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Gofurov then ensured the triumph with a placed shot following a cut-back from Miguel in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time.

Meanwhile, Chittagong Abahani made a winning start in the same group with a single-goal win over Muktijoddha Sangsad at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.

Both teams came into their opening Federation Cup match on the back of defeats in the Bangladesh Premier League but they fought neck-and-neck throughout the match before the port city side scored the winning goal in the dying minutes.

Nigerian forward Ojukwu David Ifegwu, who squandered an open chance in the first half, scored the decisive goal with a close-range header off a chip from compatriot Candy Augustine in the 90th minute.