Former champions Sheikh Russel KC moved into the quarterfinals of the Walton Independence Cup after handing a 2-1 defeat to Team BJMC in their opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The outcome also took Abahani to the last eight from Group C while Team BJMC were eliminated with two straight defeats. Sheikh Russel and Abahani will face each other in the final game of the group on January 25 to decide the group winners.
2012 champions Sheikh Russel, who set their target of qualifying for the semifinals, looked better on movement and enjoyed lion's share of possession, creating two golden opportunity before breaking the deadlock in the 80th minute.
Syed Rashed Turzo tried from inside the box with a bicycle-kick that narrowly missed the target in the 39th minute before midfielder Khalekurzaman rattled the crossbar from a set-piece in the 52nd minute.
Mehbuh Hasan Nayan eventually gave Sheikh Russel the much-deserved lead in the 80th minute with a spectacular strike. Nayan, availing a through-pass from a teammate, ran down the right flank before getting rid of his marker with a sharp turn inside the box and picking the far corner of the net with a left-footed strike.
The lead lasted only seven minutes as Monaem Khan Raju handled the ball inside the danger zone and referee Bharat Chandra did not hesitate to award BJMC a spot-kick, which striker Mohammad Robin calmly dispatched.
With the match rolling into nine minutes of stoppage time, it seemed the tournament was going to produce its fourth draw, but Sheikh Russel restored their lead three minutes into the stoppage time with a strike from substitute Sabuj Biswas. Khalekurzaman released a low-cross from the left flank and a miscued shot from Nayan went to Sabuj, who found the back of the net with a weak attempt from inside the box.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan played out a goalless draw against Rahmatganj to keep their hopes of a quarterfinal berth alive.
With two successive draws, Mohammedan, who had played out a 1-1 draw against Sheikh Jamal in their previous match, are now on top of Group A with two points from as many matches. However, the Black and Whites will have to wait to learn their fate for the match between Sheikh Jamal and Rahmatganj, both of whom have a point each.
If more than two teams finish on equal points in the three-team group, goal difference will come first to decide the two qualifiers.
