Ali Hasan scored a brace as Soccer Club Feni became the first team to confirm their quarter-finals spot in the Walton Federation Cup after winning a 3-2 thriller against Uttar Baridhara Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Feni’s victory also saw Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club book a place in the last eight from the same group.
Feni started the game brightly. A 25-yard strike from Beninese forward Oladikpikpo Wassiou Okalawon put Feni ahead with just seven minutes into the game.
Indian forward Faiz Alam restored the parity at the stroke of the first-half, slotting the ball home over Feni goalie Masud Ahmed Uzzal. Abul Kalam Azad’s initial shot on the goal was earlier parried away by Uzzal but the ball fell at Faiz’s feet.
Feni took the lead again in the 55th minute through Midfielder Ali Hasan. Nigerian forward Ahmed Samson broke into the left of the penalty area but his shot was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell to Ali Hasan, who hit the back of the net from the middle of the box.
Uttar Baridhar equalized the margin again in the next minute when Abul Kalam Azad’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and went into the net, sending the goalkeeper in the wrong direction.
Ali Hasan netted his second of the evening and sealed the victory in the 82nd minute. Left-back Ala Uddin provided a cross to the middle of the box that found an unmarked Ali, whose header came was saved by the goalkeeper but Ali made no mistake in sending the ball into the net on the second attempt.