Brothers stay alive
Sports Reporter
Mohammedan stormed into the Citycell Super Cup semifinal as the first team when the Dhaka giants crushed Farashganj 4-0 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Maruful Haque’s boys, who had beaten Chittagong Abahani 1-0 in their Group B opener with a controversial penalty goal, once again got the favour of the referee to go ahead in the first-half stoppage time from Alamu Bukola’s spotkick.
But the Black and Whites warned their title rivals with a hearty second half display that saw a brace from Mohammed Sharif and skipper Arman Aziz’s goal from freekick seal their sixth point from two matches.
Brothers Union also brightened their chances to book a last four berth with a convincing 3-0 win over ten-man Chittagong Abahani in the earlier match of the day.
On four points, Brothers will meet Mohammedan in tomorrow’s group finale after the match between winless Chittagong Abahani and Farashganj, who remain on one point with slim hopes of making the Cup competition.
Mohammedan almost took the lead in the first minute but Farashganj stopper Ramjan made a goalline save after Bukola’s header on Aziz’s freekick beat the old-Dhaka outfit goalkeeper Sujan.
Two minutes later, Mohammedan’s Nigerian defender Dami Emmanuelle had to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Aminul to make up for a gaffe inside the area but referee Tayeb Hasan ignored the handball.
Aminul was then tested by Enamul but the national number one custodian palmed away an angled drive from his near post in the 25th minute. Enamul threatened again in the injury time when he was cleared by Mamun Miah’s through ball but Aminul rushed out of his line to snatch the ball on the edge of area.
A counter attack in the very next minute saw Robin, who returned to action for Mohammedan after two months from a foot injury, stumble inside the Farashganj area following a tackle by Mamun. Although the challenge looked fair, a penalty was awarded and Nigerian Bukola, top scorer in the B. League, made no mistake to drill a low drive into the back of the net from the 12-yard mark.
The Farashganj booters, who protested for five minutes before the penalty was taken, failed to find any answer to their mighty rivals’ game plan after the break.
Egyptian midfielder Hazem Mahmud rattled the Farashganj crossbar from a 30-yard freekick four minutes after resumption but there was no escape as Sharif doubled the lead five minutes later.
Bukola dodged past his compatriot Emeka Lucky at the left flank and cut the ball back near the goalmouth where Ramjan delayed to clear for Sharif to pounce home.
It was 3-0 in the 78th minute. After a combined attack, Nasir, playing with a bandage on his injured right hand, rolled the ball towards right for Sharif — who was on the run — to rifle an angular shot into the far post off a deflection of Mamun.
Aziz then sealed the win deep in the stoppage time when he bent a freekick past the wall from the top of the box and into the net.
Brothers, who came to their second match on the back of a dull 0-0 draw against Farashganj, survived a close call when Chittagong Abahani striker Rony mistimed a header after Mithun’s clever cross.
But the Oranges hit back with Zahid Hossain being inspirational but Rikto and Henry Quaye both fluffed easy chances.
It was Zahid who shot Wasim Iqbal’s side ahead in the 36th minutes after Arup and Rikto’s hard work. Visiting defender Joseph Fullo fumbled to clear and Zahid cannoned into the top far corner after running in from the right.
Ghanaian striker Henry found the net in the 43rd minute with a placing shot after an Arup pass and the port city side’s chances all but evaporated when Liberian player Othello was sent off in the first half injury time for an off-the-ball foul on Rikto.
Brothers enjoyed superior ball possession but managed just one more goal when Tapu toe-poked home from close after a corner by Shakil in the 63rd minute.
Courtesy of www.thedailystar.net
