FC Football: Bashundhara Kings, Sk Jamal reach quarterfinals

Dhaka – Newcomer Bashundhara Kings emerged Group D champions while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club finished group runners-up to reach the quarterfinals of the season’s curtain-raiser football meet, Walton Federation Cup Football, from the group with unbeaten record at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.Star-studded Bashundhara Kings miserably dropped points with another newcomer and lowly Nofel SC in a 1-1 draw in the day’s first match while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club came from behind to share points with Dhaka Mohammedan SC, also in 1-1 draw.

In the quarterfinals, Bashundhara Kings will play Group B runners-up Team BJMC on Sunday (November 11) while Sheikh Jamal DC will take on Group B champions Saif Sporting Club on Friday (November 9).

On completion of Group D matches, both the Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Jamal DC secured five points each from all the group engagements, but Bashundhara Kings clinched the group title by virtue of better goal difference (7-4) while Sheikh Jamal DC finished group runners-up due to poor goal difference (4-3).

The traditional black and white team Mohammedan SC were eliminated from the meet collecting four points from three outings while Nofel SC finished bottom in four-team group bagging only one point.

In the day’s first match, Masuk Miah Zony scored for the Kings in the 37th minute by a right footer, utilising a cross of Mohammad Ibrahim (1-0).

Promising medio Ashraful Islam levelled the margin for lowly Nofel SC in the 61st minute by a placing shot capitalising on a cross of Ismail Bangura to the frustration of the jubilant Kings fans (1-1).

In the last group match, Gambian forward Landing put Mohammedan SC ahead in the 33rd minute from a free kick (1-0) while Argentine booter Perez restored the parity for Sheikh Jamal DC in the 48th minute, off a Soloman King pass (1-1).

Earlier, Kings beat Mohammedan SC 5-2 and played to 1-1 draw with Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Jamal DC beat Nofel SC 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Kings while Mohammedan SC beat Nofel SC 2-0 after conceding 2-5 goals defeat against the Kings.UNB