Enter the most exciting round of the 14th Ascent Cup as similar strength teams were pitted against each other on Bowl Pre Quarter Finals and Cup Quarter Finals.
For the Cup Quarter Finals, each of the eight teams playing yesterday had scored a minimum four goals in the Pre Quarter Finals.
So this promised a rampage of goals scored or extremely tight games.
And it lived up to the promise.
As has been the trend of this Cup, the game started with Polar conceding a goal and then pulling one back in the counter-attack, all within the first 90 seconds of play.https://t.co/9xSX83Zhil#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF #ASCENTCUP #ASCENT #CUP #POLAR #DT
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 31, 2019
The first game of Cup Quarter Final saw "Brother" Concerns Bando taking on Laila Group with two brothers Imran and Mizu leading their respective teams.
By the end of the game, none of the spectators had any nails left to chew on.
Bando came in with an emphatic seven goals from the previous round and Laila with an almost equally dominating four wins.
Bando after shrugging off the early jitter were in an all out attacking mood.
Watching them, you would be forgiven to call them the Poor Man's Barcelona, as they are known for their smooth passing game and building up the goal with well positioning and placement.
And that's what they did Thursday.
Keeping up the intensity as the brothers playing one another showed no mercy.
Kudos to the Laila group keeper Mizan for taking the game to the wire with one save after another, as the teams went to the break locked in at 0-0.
In the second half, both teams were desperately looking to break the deadlock but to no avail.
Just as the game was about to go for the penalty shootout, Bando were presented with a wonderful opportunity when a direct hit rebounded off the bar of Laila goal post and landed on Bando skipper Imran's leg.
He did not let this chance slip as he volleyed the ball with all his might from left as Bando inched pass Laila group at the deep end of the game and advanced to the Cup semis.
Earlier on Day 8, teams finishing third in the group stage were pitted against one another for the Bowl Pre Quarter Finals.
Asiatic took on Metronet, but went down fast in the first quarter before pulling one to level the game.
However, a fast-paced game from Metronet saw them go ahead with a 3-1 lead during the break.
A major turn of events in the second half saw Asiatic score a brace to give themselves a fighting chance for the Quarter Finals.
The game went to penalties, where Metronet closed the deal 2-0.
Le Meridien's pedestrian performance in the first half saw Petromax netting in a couple of goals before Le Meridien regrouped and pulled one in.
#Goal rain at last day of group stage https://t.co/i0LBLEiieB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 29, 2019
However, Petromax's intense attack saw them go through to the Bowl Quarter Finals with a score of 5-2.
Bangladesh University also moved on to Bowl Quarter Finals.
With the Cup Quarter Finals still in play, we're expecting it to be just as exhilarating as the one between Bando and Laila Group.
During the time of the report, the game between Torque and IIDFC was nil-nil at the end of regulation time.
