Reigning champions Bashundhara Kings edged past Bangladesh Navy football team 1-0 while Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited came from behind twice to play out a 2-2 draw with Bangladesh Army side during their Independence Cup opening matches Saturday.
Brazilian midfielder Miguel Ferreira broke the deadlock with only three minutes into the clock which was enough for Kings to secure victory at home in their first game of the new domestic season.
Goalkeeper Saiful Islam and center-back Tutul Hossain Badshah replaced suspended first-choices Anisur Rahman Zico and Topu Barman respectively and the Kings faced no problems keeping the clean sheet.
Mohammedan, on the other hand, fell behind twice in the first match of the day at the same venue - Kings Arena - but managed to salvage a point at the end.
Former national women’s football team head coach Golam Rabbani Choton guided the Army team as the head coach and made his Independence Cup debut memorable.
Emtiyaz Raihan and Ranju Sikder put Choton’s side ahead twice in the ninth and 24th minute before Arif Hossain and substitute Jafar Iqbal equalized for the Black and Whites.
RESULTS
Bashundhara Kings 1 Bangladesh Navy 0
Mohammedan 2 Bangladesh Army 2