ZCZC
BSP-21
FOOTBALL-FED-CUP-SAIF
Saif SC reach semifinal in Federation Cup
DHAKA, Jan 2, 2021 (BSS) – Saif Sporting Club, as the second team,
reached semifinal of the Federation Cup Football beating Mohammedan
Sporting Club Limited by 7-6 goals in sudden death tiebreaker in the
second quarterfinal match held today at Bangabandhu National Stadium
here.
The regulation and extra time of the pulsating quarterfinal produced
a 2-2 draw after Saif came from behind to level the margin.
Saif Sporting Club will now meet Chattogram Abahani Limited in the
first quarterfinal scheduled to be held on January 6 at the same venue
at 4 pm.
It was much entertaining football between the two sides the football
fans saw after a long time. The first ten minutes of the match was
superb with both the teams launched attacks and counter attacks which
entertained the spectators in the big bowl.
Mohammedan went attack very early and got the immediate reap in the
very 2nd minute of the match when defender Mohammad Atiquzzaman sent
the ball with a perfect header from inside the danger zone (1-0).
The traditional Motijheel out outfit again came close of scoring in
the 3rd minute but Farhad Mona’s long range fierce shot went out of
play beside the side bar.
Mohammedan continued their onslaught when Shahed Hossain’s placing
shot from the top of the D-box narrowly missed the target in the next
minute.
But, Mohammedan’s lead was lasted for few minutes as Saif Sporting
Club staged a fight back in the match in the 7th minute. Their
Nigerian defender Emmanuel Ariwachukwu marched forward to push the
ball to the net from the D box following a corner kick from right wing
(1-1).
Saif Sporting Club took lead when their Nigerian forward Kenneth
Ikechukwu scored the second goal in the 11th minute with a brilliant
placing shot from close range.
Mohammedan had a good chance to level the margin in the 33rd minute
when Habibur Rahman Shohag’s long range free kick sailed harmlessly
over the cross bar.
Following a counter attack in the next minute, Saif SC could widen
the margin but Fahim’s placing shot was brilliantly saved by
Mohammedan custodian Ahsan Habib Bipu at a cost of corner.
Mohammedan finally fought back in the match in the 44th minute when
Malian forward Souleymane Diabate scored the second goal with a
perfect header utilizing a corner kick from the right flank (2-2).
Earlier, Saif Sporting Club made a winning start as they blanked
Uttar Baridhara Club by 3-0 goals in their group opening match, dumped
Brothers Union Club by 6-1 goals and emerged group B champions with a
solitary goal victory over Arambagh Krira Sangha in their third and
last group match.
On the other hand, group D runners-up Mohammedan Sporting Club made
a losing start in the tournament as they went down a 0-3 goal defeat
to their arch-rival Dhaka Abahani Limited but they fought back in the
match with a dominating 4-1 goal victory over Muktijoddha Sangsad
Krira Chakra in their second and last group match.
Sunday’s match: Bashundhara Kings vs Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club
(third quarterfinal) at 4 pm.
BSS/SG/MRU/2002hrs