The big guns of the tournament have been piling the pressure on the minnows and newbies of the group stages, and that reflected directly on the score line in the first six games yesterday. As many as 54 goals were netted in those matches of the second day with many of them in double digits.
Debutantes Hotel Orchard Suites were in for rude awakening by the tournament favourites, Beximco Pharma, who made the Orchard goalkeeper pick the ball out of their nets a total of 16 times! Arafat Sunny, who also happens to be a national cricket player, of Beximco Pharma scored a total of 10 goals in the match alone - surely a tournament record. It also makes him a front runner for the Golden Boot. A shell shocked Orchard Suites were left to lick their wounds and prepare for their next match.
Qubee continued their winning run after upsetting last years champions by beating Midas Financing, 4-1. The game was tied at a goal a piece at half time after a spirited performance by the newcomers. But Qubee’s experience showed in the 2nd half as Rakib scored a fine brace in the closing minutes. Noor-e-Alam and Yasir also added to Qubee’s cause while Zunaid Bin Islam pulled one back for the financial firm.
Newcomers and associate sponsor IPDC put on a valiant effort against tournament old boys Trust Bank Ltd. The game may have ended 3-2 for Trust Bank, but it was the leasing company that left the STM Hall with their heads held high. Team captain Samiur Rahman scored a brace for IPDS and guided his boys to a respectful finish.
IIDFC’s captain Biplob guided his team to a 4-1 win against Rahimafrooz Storage and scoring 2 in the process. Shohib Haider Noon Hossain adding a goal each for IIDFC.
Bangla Cat have faced HRC Group many times over the years in this very tournament. But if ever an encounter epitomized the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt”, it would have to be this one. The two went at each other with hammer and tongs, but it was HRC who proved too strong in the final whistle as they out scored Cat in a 7-3 encounter. Rion doing his goal tally no harm as he scored 4 screamers for HRC bringing his total to nine in two games with teammate Sijon on seven. Md Arifur scored a double for Bangla Cat.
Tiger IT found out how ruthless the Ascent Cup can be to debutante teams as the in-form Gemcon Group romped home with 13-0 pasting. At times it almost seemed as if it were a Gemcon practice session, as they passed the ball around with ease, much to the Tiger IT’s frustration. Apart from the three hattrick heroes - Shamim, Monu and Munna - Rikto and Punnell Hombron scored braces.
STS Group and HSBC were locked in a vicious dogfight which ended in 2-2 draw. STS’s poster boy and part time rock idol, Jabed got on the score sheet along with teammate Omar Faruk. HSBC’s Nazmul Huda scoring two for his side.
Securex were looking ominous as they took their old foes Chevron to the cleaners in a 7-3 romp. Their lively No 9 Shoriful scoring four past the Chevron keeper, while Mosabber and Monir also added to the security companies cause. Atik scored 2 for Chevron and Mannaf added another for the oil and gas explorers.
Newcomers North South University faced another debutante team Kazi Farm and won the tie with a solitary goal. The faculty members were all smiles at the final whistle while Kazi Farm were left to reflect on what went wrong. However, with Group I still wide open, they are still in a position to turn their fortunes around should they beat Viz RT in their next match.
Pharmaceutical giants Incepta played out a hard fought 3-3 draw against Stellar Digital. Ahad, Salman and Mahir converted for the Stellar, while Shyak pulled 2 back Incepta, and Awal added another.
The Big Bang Theory (Therap BD) clawed out 2-1 victory against a plucky MM Isphani Ltd team. Safwan and Saad both featuring in the score line for Therap while Amin pulled one back for Ispahani. Ascent Cup stalwarts Bangla Trac went head to head against British American Tobacco and their star striker Emran Khan put four past BAT goalkeeper Shihan. The tobacco firm must have found the going tough after their 3 year absence in this tournament and having such seasoned opposition as Bangla Trac did not help one bit. The absence of Shiblee Shakik Ahmed weighed heavily on the tobacconists shoulder.
Rookie team Spellbound virtually pulled a rabbit out of their hat by beating General Electric in their 2nd match of Group N. Jubair Azaz scoring a cool hattrick for the PR firm. It was back to the drawing board for GE, as they prepare for damage control against Metlife Alico who they face in their next fixture.