Mohammedan Sporting Club ruined Feni Soccer Club’s dream of clinching the Independence Cup title with a 5-4 win in tie-breaker at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday. Feni Soccer’s Gambian forward Kabba Jobe took the first shot for his side in the shoot-out but Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan made all the difference by producing a diving save.
Mohammedan scored all five goals from the spot while Mathew Mendy, Abdullah Al Mamun, Chuka Charles and Landing Darboe’s scored for Soccer Club.
After taking the winning shot by Nigerian defender Ubom Henry, the BNS turned into a Black and White festival.
Before their tragic end, Feni Soccer did all things without scoring, which definitely won plaudits of few thousands spectators, who came to the gallery to support a club who had reached the final for the first time after entering the top level football.
Though Feni failed to make history still their players fought neck and neck with Mohammedan as both sides displayed speedy and outstanding football.
From the beginning of the final, both the sides tried to go ahead by scoring first but the defence of both teams gave no chance to their respective opponents which kept the margin goalless.
Mohammedan forward Tawhidul Alam Sabuj destroyed the first real scoring opportunity in the sixth minute after a blunder by Feni defender Akramuzzaman Liton, who failed to clear a long ball which allowed Sabuj ahead into the box but his angular shot saved was by Feni keeper Nehal.
Veteran midfielder of Feni, Azmal Hossain Biddyut took a strike from just outside the box but his shot went straight to Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan.
Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Ameli wasted a chance in the 28th minute when the national striker failed to connect a short cross by Arup Kumar Baidya from the right flank.
In the early second half, Ameli received a cutback from Sabuj and the Mohammedan skipper dribbled past a defender but he saw his attempt fly over the crossbar.
Feni responded quickly with a counter-attack in the 49th minute but Chuka Charles’ shot on a square pass from Ridon was blocked by a defender.
Mamun Khan produced a brilliant save to rescue Mohammedan in the 55th minute as Landing Darboe took a powerful strike from 25 yards out after receiving a pass from Kabba Jobe but the Gambian marksman’s shot was saved by Mamun Khan.
In the 72nd minute Nehal rescued Feni Soccer by producing another stunning save when Mohammedan forward Ameli struck a powerful left-footed shot from the top of the box but Nehal dived to his right to save the shot.
The match was still goalless after the end of extra time so the fate of the final went into the tie-breaker.
In the 25th minute of the extra time Zongo Ousseni destroyed the golden chance to seal the victory for his side as the Burkina Faso striker failed to put the ball into an empty net after Ameli’s grounder deflected off a defender.
Mohammedan’s forward Zongo Ousseni won the player of the final trophy while Soccer Club goalkeeper Nehal was adjudged as the player of the tournament.
-With New Age input
