Dhaka Mohammedan and Muktijoddha powered their way to the quarterfinals of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup Football beating Arambagh and Uttar Baridhara by 4-1 and 6-1 goals respectively at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
In the first match of the day Mohammedan’s clinical display was too much for their second tier opponents while Muktijoddha were clearly boosted with the arrival of Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba who scored a hat-trick in his very first appearance this season. With the inclusion of Sunday, the three pronged Nigerian attack of Muktijoddha, comprising Sunday, Elita Kingsley and Nkowcha Kingsley is all set to disturb all the opposition defence.
Arambagh shocked Mohammedan in the 4th minute when defender Mintu Sheikh sent the ball into his own net while trying to clear a low cross of Arambagh skipper Kanchan
Mohammedan absorbed the shock and scored the equalizer in the 7th minute after Zahid Hossain’s corner landed in the middle of the box and Nigerian midfielder Damien Chigozie’s right footer gave Arambagh goalie Bishnu no chance to react.
Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Emily put his tean ahead in the 41st minute with a neat finishing. Rightly anticipating a left flank cross of Zahid, Emily slotted his right footer into the middle of the net.
Touhidul Alam Sobuj, the Mohammedan forward who earlier missed a one to one chance with Bishnu inserted his name in the scorer’s list in the 57th minute when Arup Baidya cut a low cross from the right flank and Sobuj flicked the ball in to the post.
Emily scored his second in the 59th minute with a cool headed right footer past Bishnu in a one to one situation .
In the second match Uttar Baridhara took lead in the 8th minute of the match through their Lucky Divine. Taking a ball from midfield, the Nigerian forward entered into the box dodging past two opponent defender and beat Muktijoddha goalie Rusel Mahmud Liton with a left footer. Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba restored the parity in the 13th minute. Muktijoddha Sangshad took the lead in the 15th minute when their forward Eleta Kingsley’s fierce left footer hit the back of the net.
Nkwocha Kingsley added the third in the 18th minute with a solo effort. Sunday scored his second and fourth for Muktijoddha in the 59th minute from 20 yards out. Sunday completed his hat-trick with placing shot on a cut back of defender Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji from the right five minutes later.
Nkwocha Kingsley scored the sixth for Muktijoddha and second for him with a header on a cross from Md. Enamul Haque.
Both Bairidhara and Arambagh are eliminated from the tournament with two consecutive losses.
