Soccer Club, Feni confirmed their quarter-final slot from Group D in the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup with a 3-2 win over Rahmatganj MFS at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. In the other match of the day Brothers Union were held to a 1-1 draw by Chittagong Abahani.
Rahmatganj, the Bangladesh Championship League outfit drew 1-1 with Team BJMC in the group which saw them finish their campaign with one point. However if Feni Soccer beat Team BJMC by a big margin then the goal difference will decide the fate of the last slot from the group while a win for BJMC will stop Rahmatganj for progressing further.
Feni Soccer’s new Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe showed admirable control and pace as he scored a brace on his debut match. In the 7th minute he headed a Rony Islam cross using his height and doubled the lead in the 31st minute with an intelligent upward placing shot off a goal mouth melee.
Rahmatganj, however, staged a comeback with striker Nurul Absar converting the spot kick in the 37th minute after he was tackled from behind by Soccer captain Abu Sufian Zahid. Rahmatnganj drew level with Md. Jahangir’s fierce shot from 20 yards out which gave Feni Soccer goalkeeper Piru hardly any chance to react before defender Abdullah Al-Mamun’s calm headed finish in the last minute triggered wild celebrations in the Soccer tent.
In the other match, Brothers Union took the lead in the 22nd minute with Rubel Miah’s easy strike from the near post. Chimezie Mike sent a long ball from the midfield to Jewel Rana who took control at the left edge of the box before cutting a square pass to onrushing Rubel.
Chittagong Abahani regrouped and equalised in the 38th minute with Guinean forward Ousmane Cherif’s powerful shot from 20 yards out. In the 42nd minute Chittagong Abahani forward Sohel Mia made his way through the Brothers defence but shot wide. In the dying stage of the second half Brothers forward Abdul Malek failed to score in a one-on-one situation with Abahani goalkeeper Nahiduddin as both teams shared points.
