Sheikh Russel amble into last four
Last season's runners-up Chittagong Abahani followed defending champions Arambagh KS to be eliminated from the quarterfinals of the Independence Cup with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sheikh Russel KC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Uzbek forward Azizov Alisher and Nigerian striker Raphael Odoyin scored one goal apiece within the span of three minutes in the first half to set up the former champions' semifinal clash against Brothers Union on December 19.
Sheikh Russel came into the last-eight battle on the back of two goalless draws against Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Jamal DC and had a clear headache with their toothless attackers against a side that had bagged seven points and scored four goals in three matches.
However, the day belonged to the foreign striking duo of Azizov and Odoyin, who did not disappoint their side like the Federation Cup quarterfinal where they were beaten by Bashundhara Kings after substitute Towhidul Alam Sabuz scored a 118th-minute winner.
Azizov looked bright throughout the match and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute when he nutmegged two defenders inside the box to go close but goalkeeper Mohammad Nehal grabbed his low shot.
Azizov made amends six minutes later to put Sheikh Russel ahead with a spectacular left-footed volley from inside the box after Odoyin headed down a cross from Bishwanath Gosh.
After conceding, Chittagong Abahani looked a bit disorganised and Sheikh Russel KC took full advantage of the haphazard condition within three minutes. National midfielder Biplo Ahmed released a long ball from the edge of the opposition box but a Chittagong Abahani defender deposited it to unmarked Odoyin instead of clearing the ball and the Nigerian striker punished the port city side with a powerful low shot at the far post, giving goalkeeper Nehal no time to react.
Chittagong Abahani, despite enjoying better ball possession in the second half, could not break Sheikh Russel's rock-solid backline.
“We played against two opponents (Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Jamal DC) who were very much attacking, so we were a bit cautious in the group-stage matches but today we pressed hard from the beginning to get goals and the tactic worked well in the first half,” said Sheikh Russel coach Saiful Bari Titu, who is now dreaming of playing in the final.