Grameenphone Federation Cup 2010
MSC, Muktis draw blank
Goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury made a couple of brilliant saves earn defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club a valuable 0-0 draw against a star-studded Muktijoddha Sangsad in the Grameenphone Federation Cup’s group B encounter under floodlights yesterday.
In the earlier match, Brothers Union ensured they got all three points with a come-from-behind 3-1 win against Feni Soccer Club at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, thanks to a brace from Brazilian playmaker Everton.
The match under the floodlight was not only a battle of pride but also a between the4 country’s two successful coaches Shafiqul Islam Manik and Maruful Haq. Maruf quit Mohammedan in the middle of the third edition of the professional football league last season and was replaced by Manik, a former coach of Muktijoddha.
On the back of 11 goals in two qualifying matches and boasting a bunch of star players, Muktijoddha were definitely had the upper hand against a depleted Mohammedan side, who even failed to ensure the services of two of their last season’s most valuable players — captain Enamul Haq Sharif and defender Hasan Al Mamun.
A rejuvenated Muktijoddha started the game at a great pace and found the back of the net within 13 minutes, only to find the goal ruled out due to off-side. Twelve minutes later, their Sudanese striker James narrowly missed the target from a set-piece.
But as the game progressed, the scenario changed as youthful Mohammedan succeeded in keeping Muktijoddha at bay. Mohammedan winger Bipul kept on releasing threatening crosses from the left but their strikers failed to capitalise on those.
Nigerian striker Emeka failed to find the net from an unmarked position and later when he headed one home, it was cancelled for off-side.
After resumption, Muktijoddha brought a couple of changes assert more control over the midfield and came close twice,
but each time Titumir proved solid under the bar to thwart those attacks.
Titumir also brilliantly tipped a powerful drive from Motiur Munna over the bar for a corner.
Right before the end of the match, Bukola missed the easiest chance of the game as he failed to tap the ball from a scramble inside the eight-
yard box.
It was a one-man show in the day’s first match where Brazilian playmaker Everton impressed everyone with his dribbling skill and ensured all three points with his double-strike.
It was Feni Soccer Club though who stroke first though in the 17th minute. It came from a counter attack when Bulbul, availing a clearance, ran down the right flank to enter into the box and sent the ball over an advancing goalkeeper Mitul Hasan to silence his former club.
Going down, Everton turned the table for Brothers with his brilliant dribbling skill and built up a nice partnership with Nigerian forward Enock Bentil. The All Orange outfit stepped up the attack and came close to an equaliser five minutes later, but Bentil’s header on a Faisal Mahmud cross went just wide. They did not have to wait much longer for the equaliser as Everton danced past three defenders to drive a low left-footer past Feni goalkeeper Piaruzzaman to level the scores on the 38th minute. Everton gave his side the lead three minutes after restart, playing a nice little one-two with Bentil.
Winger Faisal sealed the fate of the game and ensured three comfortable points for the All Orange with a fierce right-footer in the 71st minute.
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Titumir Chowdhury, Arafat Rony, Hasan Al Mamun, Shahed Azam, Enamul Haq Sharif, Kabir Hossain, Zahidul Islam (Rony Islam), Shafiqul Islam Bipul (Ripon Khan) (Shariful Islam), Anwar Hossain, Emeka Christian and Emeka Lucky Uti.
MUKTIJODDHA SANGSAD: Biplob Bhattacherjee, Nasir Chowdhury (Mithun Chowdhury), Rajani Kanta Barmon, Motiur Munna, Mofazzal Hossain Saikat (Zahir), Firoz Mahmud Titu, Alamu Bukola, James (Zahed Parvez Chowdhury), Dami Emanuel, Alamgir Kabir Rana and Maruf Ahmed.
Referee: Tayeb Hasan
