Uttar Baridhara Club kept alive their chances of progressing to the Federation Cup quarter-final after edging Arambagh Krira Sangha 3-2 in a Group B thriller at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Saturday.
Uttar Baridhara began their campaign with a resounding 3-0 loss against one of the tournament favorites Saif Sporting Club but registered their first win, which came on the back of three goals scored in the first half.
Arambagh in contrast tasted their first loss after winning their opening game 2-0 against Brothers Union, who take on Saif Sporting later Saturday.
Sheikh Jahidur Rahman’s charges stormed into a 24th minute lead when national striker Sumon Reza found the back of the net from a Mostafa Abdul Khalek Hammad cross, two minutes after Reza struck the post.
Uttar Baridhara doubled their lead at the half hour mark through Sujon Biswas who lobbed over the Arambagh goalkeeper and into the net.
Young forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim scored one and assisted another as Saif Sporting Club strolled to a comfortable 3-0 win...
Posted by Sports Tribune on Thursday, 24 December 2020
2016 edition’s runners-up Arambagh reduced the arrears seven minutes later when Chizoba Christopher hit home from a wayward cross.
Once again Reza hammered the post in the 43rd minute before Egyptian Hammad eventually found the net 60 seconds later as Uttar Baridhara made it 3-1.
Hammad couldn’t capitalize on a mistake from the opposition defence five minutes into the second half as Uttar Baridhara got some chances to add to their two-goal lead but Arambagh held their fort.
Arambagh against the run of play made it 3-2 in the 75th minute when Miraj Molla’s cross was gleefully headed home by Nihat Jaman over the head of Uttar Baridhara custodian Mamun Alif.
Uttar Baridhara could’ve avoided a dramatic finale by making it 4-2 but Sujon wasted a good opportunity in the 76th minute, shooting wide of the post after a Hammad cutback.