Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited finished a lowly ninth in the last season of the Bangladesh Premier League, continuing their struggles in the domestic football arena in the last few years.
Just like the senior men’s team, the Motijheel-based outfit’s U-18 team are also finding it difficult as they bowed out of the National U-18 Football Tournament in the group stage after conceding nine goals in two matches.
Pitted in a tough Group C alongside arch-rival Abahani Limited and top-flight champion Bashundhara Kings, the Black and Whites opened their campaign with a 4-0 loss against the Kings.
And Wednesday at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Mohammedan suffered a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Sky Blues as the latter moved into the last eight along with the Kings.
#Kings, #Arambagh, #Sk #Jamal reach U-18 quarterfinals https://t.co/LA9CWatZTI
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 16, 2019
In the second phase of the top-tier BPL last season, Mohammedan had inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Abahani so perhaps Wednesday's win was some sort of a revenge.
Iqbal stole the show with a hat-trick while Rakib and Sakir scored one each.
Imran netted the consolation for Mohammedan from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile in the other match of the day at the same venue, Arambagh Krira Sangha progressed from Pool B as group champion after their 1-0 win over Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited.
Junior booters expressed hope of a good show in the Saff U-18 Championship as a 30-member contingent, including 23 players, fly for Nepal Wednesday morning to take part in the third edition of the event, scheduled to begin in Kathmandu on September 20https://t.co/2ZmMy90vKr#BFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 17, 2019
Mohammad Rahul Talukdar notched the all-important goal in the 53rd minute to take Arambagh to the last eight, along with Sheikh Jamal, who advanced as the runners-up.
Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society, who finished with zero points, are the other team of the group.
In the first quarter-final at the BNS Friday, Brothers Union will take on the Kings while a day later, Arambagh will lock horns with Nofel Sporting Club in the second quarter.
In the third last-eight clash Sunday, Abahani will face Chittagong Abahani Limited while in the fourth quarter-final Monday, Saif Sporting Club will face off against Sheikh Jamal.
