Bangladesh Premier League champion Bashundhara Kings were ruled out of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup after losing to Terengganu FC 4-2 in their must-win match of the final group round fixtures at MA Aziz Stadium in the port city Saturday.
English midfielder Lee Tuck, the captain of the Malaysian outfit, netted a hat-trick and set up another to steal the show, while Daniel Colindres and Jalal Kdouh scored one apiece for the Kings.
Earlier, Sree Gokulam Kerala became the first club from Group B to secure their place in the last four after beating I-League champion Chennai City FC comfortably 2-0 in the first game of the day.
Both Terengganu and Gokulam earned the same number of points (seven) with the same goal difference, but the former became the group champion by the virtue of scoring more goals (nine).
Host Chittagong Abahani Limited reached the semi-final of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup as group champion despite losing to Mohun Bagan AC 1-0 in the final group stage match at MA Aziz Stadium in the port city Friday.https://t.co/dniMgFvcxt#FOOTBALL #BFF #BANGLADESH
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 25, 2019
The semi-final fixtures were also finalized with Kings’ defeat as host and Group A winner Chittagong Abahani Limited will now face Gokulam while Terengganu and Mohun Bagan AC will take on each other.
Mahabub Hossain Roksy coached the Kings from the dug-out in the absence of suspended manager Oscar Bruzon.
Two changes were made from the last game with Rabiul Hasan and Yeasin Khan making their return in place of Mahbubur Rahman Sufil and Alamgir Kabir Rana.
Goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico appeared as the savior by producing three crucial saves within only eight minutes - first stopping Tuck’s dangerous run before making a double save against Bruno Suzuki on a one-on-one following Kamal Zabri’s effort on the rebound.
Costa Rican World Cupper Colindres broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, heading home a cross by Bishwanath Ghosh.
Abahani Limited’s former player, Tuck equalized from the penalty spot before the break after Yeasin made an unnecessary foul on midfielder Syafik Ismail.
Kings gave away another penalty in extra time and this time, Kyrgyz midfielder Baktyiar Duishobekov, who started as a center-back, fouled Ismail inside the box.
Tuck sent Zico the wrong way once again.
Terengganu goalkeeper Amirullah Bin Razali denied a shot from Colindres six minutes into the second half after Kdouh broke into the right side of the box before feeding Colindres a sublime chance.
Colindres squandered another chance in the 57th minute following a Matin Mia cross.
Tuck completed his treble with a bullet-like strike from just outside the right edge of the box, giving Zico no chance before substitute midfielder Mohohammd Alias killed the game after dribbling past Baktyiar and Rabiul to extend the lead.
Lebanese striker Kdouh, who scored a brace in the last match, pulled one back in the 83rd minute with a sliding finish from close-range following a fast cross from Colindres from the left side.
Terengganu FC and Sree Gokulam Kerala FC played out a goalless draw in their Group B match of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at MA Aziz Stadium in the port city Thursday.https://t.co/AMPx7xWxFU#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF #TERENGGANU #GOKULAM #CLUBCUP
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 24, 2019
In the day’s other match, Chennai started without their suspended Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa and Spanish defender Roberto Suarez and struggled against fellow I-League outfit Gokulam, who controlled the game and created most of the chances.
Forward Lal Romawia put Gokulam ahead in the eighth minute as he tapped one home from close range following a pass by Henry Kisekka after the initial effort by Nathaniel Garcia from a long free-kick was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Ugandan striker Kisekka doubled the lead four minutes later with an easy placing shot following another low free-kick by Garcia and a dummy by Trinidad and Tobago defender Andre Ettienne.
Kisekka joined Terengganu’s Japanese striker Bruno Suzuki at the top of the highest scorers’ list with four goals.
RESULTS
Bashundhara 2 (Colindres 27, Kdouh 83) 4 Terengganu (Tuck 44-P, 45-P, 74, Alias 76)
Gokulam 2 (Romawia 8, Kisekka 12) 0 Chennai City
SEMI-FINALS LINE-UP
Ctg Abahani v Gokulam Kerala
Terengganu v Mohun Bagan
Matches will be held Monday at 4pm and 7pm respectively
