Mukti-joddha Sangsad KC started their Super Cup mission with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday.
Mohammedan’s Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba and Farashganj-lent playmaker Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani gave their side a two-goal lead in the first half. Muktijoddha forwards Alamu Bukola and Mithun Chowdhury levelled the scoreline at the later stage of the match.
Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik blamed over-enthusiasm of his players for losing the lead while his counterpart Maruful Haque accused his players of less enthusiasm.
‘My players are very much motivated to win the title and so they ran more in the first half only to run out of steam after half-time which gave our opponents a chance to come back in the game,’ said Manik.
Muktijoddha, who finished second in the recently-concluded Bangladesh League, were expected to dominate their comparatively less powerful opponents but the scene was different when Mohammedan started in an attacking mood.
Maruf said too much interference by his club officials made his key players less dedicated to the team and it was their luck that they could manage one point at the end.
‘If you clear the payment of the fringe players leaving the regular ones empty-handed then they will automatically lose their interest,’ Maruf said.
Mohammedan took control of the match after Sunday chested down Shariful Islam’s cross near the goal-line just eight minutes after the beginning of the match.
Things became worse for Muktiojoddha three minutes later when Bhasani’s side-volley from a corner taken by Touhidul Alam hit the back of the net.
Muktijoddha, however, came back in the first-half’s added time, capitalising on a blunder by their opposition goalkeeper Mohammed Al Hasan. The Nigerian goalie fumbled a Borris Kochikin header from a
Munna cross giving an opportunist Bukola a chance to tuck the ball home.
Bukola helped Mithun score the equaliser, providing a cross from left which deflected off Mohammedan defender Beyback Fombaghni before Mithun shot into post from just inside the penalty area.
The goals charged up the Muktijoddha players to create some good scoring chances but their forwards squandered all of them.
Both the teams will face Sheikh Russell KC, the other team of the group. Top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
-With New Age input
