Kings drag Police thru to last eight

The quarter finals line-up of Riviera Independence Cup was decided after Bashundhara Kings handed a 3-0 defeat to Chattogram Abahani at Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday.

Kings emerged Group D champions with maximum nine points from three outings, which meant that Bangladesh Police finished as group runners-up, by virtue of superior goal difference than Abahani and Bangladesh Navy, after playing a 1-1 draw against Navy in the day's first match.  

Having confirmed the quarterfinal berth in the previous match, Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon brought eight changes in the Kings eleven. 

Even though Kings lacked intensity upfront with a depleted side, Brazilian Robson Da Silva broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a drive from top of the box before Rubel Mia failed to place a shot on the open net in the 26th minute to deprive Abahani an equaliser.

Abahani's Nigerian duo Kehinde Yisa Anifowose and Ebimobowei Thankgod came close to striking one minute before the break but Anifowose squandered the opportunity, which could have taken Abahani ahead of Police in terms of greater goal number of goals scored.

After resumption, Kings strengthened their attack with Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Mohammad Ibrahim and Matin Mia in the second half.

However, Sufil squandered an opportunity despite getting the opponent goalkeeper and afterwards, Abahani goalkeeper Azad Hossain was sent off in 80th minute as he picked up the ball from the feet of Bosnian striker Stojan Vranjes outside the box. 

And following the marching order, Abahani conceded two quick goals. Ibrahim tapped in to double the margin after substitute goalkeeper Saiful Islam stopped a free-kick from Stojan while Matin wrapped up victory by dribbling past goalkeeper in the 89th minute to ensure that Kings maintain all-win record before their quarterfinal clash against Sheikh Jamal DC on December 12.

In the day's first match, after a barren first half, Police broke the deadlock against national players-studded Bangladesh Navy with MS Bablu beating goalkeeper Shahedul Alam with a low drive outside the box.

However, Police could hold the lead for only 21 minutes as the former national winger Zahid Hossain, coming on as a substitute, mustered a low free-kick from the left which reached home through the legs of Police defenders.  

Both Police and Navy aimed for a spot at quarterfinals with an outright win but they had to be content with a stalemate.