Police ease past hapless Arambagh
Trouble-hit Arambagh suffered a 3-1 loss to newcomers Bangladesh Police in their first match of the TVS Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Arambagh came into the season’s curtain-raising tournament with only four days of training after having formed a squad at the eleventh hour following crisis at the club due to the casino scandal which hit Dhaka’s Club Para in September this year.
The traditional club still have their tent under lock and key, with the football squad lodged at the Kamalapur Stadium dormitory temporarily for this tournament. The 2018 Independence Cup champions, who had finished fifth in the Bangladesh Premier League last season, had to release most of their high-profile players in the transfer-window and were expected to struggle this season.
And the first match of the season did prove to be a struggle for Arambagh, who failed to pose much of a threat going forward despite roughly sharing equal possession in the first half.
One goal each in either half from Bangladesh Police’s American forward Sydney Adam killed the contest before two late goals at either end gave the match an inflated scoreline.
“We have scraped together a team somewhat and we had only four days of training. In that regard, our performance was not that bad even though we conceded three bad goals,” said Arambagh coach Jahidur Rahman Milon at the post-match press conference, adding that he expected his side to survive the drop while not being too hopeful about their chances in the current tournament.
Adam broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, tapping home at the far post after a corner from Artur Muladzhanov was steered towards him. The American doubled Police’s lead in the 82nd minute, smashing home from inside the box.
Arambagh found a consolation goal a minute from time when Jakir Hossain Ziku’s goal-bound attempt was deflected off Police defender Aider Mambetaliev and bamboozled goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel. But Police ended the match with a two-goal winning margin, thanks to an injury-time strike from Mohammad Shadhin.
“We wanted to be in control of the game like we were today. We had four or five chances and I’m happy with the win. We have to have the same attitude and seriousness in the other matches,” Nicolas Vitorovic, Bangladesh Police’s Cypriot coach, said at the post-match press conference.
The win lifted Police, who were on the receiving end of a 4-0 drubbing from defending champions Abahani in the opening match of Group A, to three points from two matches. Abahani, who lead the group with three points from one game, will take on Arambagh in the group’s last match on Tuesday.
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