MSC sail past Navy; Russel hold Fortis

Mohammedan began their Independence Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bangladesh Navy in one of two opening-day fixtures at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj yesterday.

The Black and Whites, who have formed a strong squad with hopes of regaining some glory, struggled a bit in their first match of the season against Navy, a side playing sans foreign players but featuring national players like Rahmat Mia, Raihan Hasan, Sohel Rana, Shahidul Alam Sohel.

Mohammedan looked better in the midfield, which featured foreign players like Uzbekistan's Muzaffar Muzaffarov and Venezuelan Daniel Ricardo Febles. But they had to wait till the 84th minute to break the deadlock, quickly firing twice in the space of three minutes thanks to a strike and assist from dependable forward Souleymane Diabate.

Diabate provided the breakthrough by rising to nod home a Muzaffar corner in the 84th minute before providing a fine low cross for Jafar Iqbal, who only had to tap in.

At the Shaheed Dhirendhranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla, newcomers Fortis FC surrendered their lead in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Sheikh Russel. Mfon Sunday Udoh burst into the box and placed the ball to the left of goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana in the 52nd minute, cancelling out a 37th-minute header from Brazilian defender Danilo Augusto Chapocal.