Jamal Bhuiyan scored the first goal of the Walton Independence Cup as his spectacular late free-kick earned Saif Sporting Club a hard-fought 1-0 win over Team BJMC in the inaugural match of the season’s second professional event at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Saturday.
The national midfielder couldn’t remember after the game if he had scored any goal from a free-kick in Bangladesh’s domestic league before.
The national team skipper’s first goal of the season however, was one to watch.
Saif Sporting’s much-awaited winner came in the 86th minute of the game.
BJMC’s Uzbek defender Furkat Jon fouled Yeasin Arafat inches outside the box to stop the Saif Sporting defender’s dangerous move.
Jamal stepped up to take a curved right-footed strike from 20 yards out that sneaked home into the top-right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Jamal informed following the game that he has been practising free-kicks in the training sessions since the arrival of their new head coach Jonathan McKinstry, who joined the side after the Federation Cup group stage last month.
It was Jamal whose set-pieces earned Saif Sporting the first two chances in the game.
Jafar Iqbal’s effort in Jamal’s free-kick was gripped in the sixth minute before the BJMC keeper Shohag Hossain fisted away Colombian forward Deiner Cordova’s header from Jamal’s corner.
The Bangladesh Football Federation revealed the fixture of the season’s second professional tournament, the Independence Cup, Monday with Saif Sporting Club taking on Team BJMC in the lone match of the inaugural day Saturday.https://t.co/AUsbmpkNJ3#BFF #BANGLADESH #FOOTBALL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 26, 2018
BJMC had their chance to equalise two minutes into the second half, but Saif Sporting custodian Ziaur Rahman made a timely block to deny Uzbek midfielder Otabek’s effort from a low Mubarak Hossain cross from the right flank.
At the hour mark, Riyadul Hasan Rafi’s header from a Jamal free-kick was saved by Zia.
Yeasin’s left-footer from the left flank hit the woodwork in the 74th minute.
Saif Sporting will take on Arambagh Krira Sangha in their second Group A match Friday.
Federation Cup champion Abahani Limited will begin their campaign Sunday against Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra while Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited and Bashundhara Kings face each other in the day’s other match at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Saturday's inaugural game was not telecast live on television due to “technical reasons” by the broadcaster, as stated by BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.
RESULT
SAIF SPORTING 1 (Jamal 86) 0 SK JAMAL
Sunday's MATCHES
Abahani v Muktijoddha, 3pm
Sk Jamal v Bashundhara, 5:15pm
Both the games will be held at BNS, Dhaka