Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) lifted the Independence Cup 2014,
edging out Feni Soccer Club 5-4 in tie-breaker after a goalless draw
in regulation time on Saturday. This is MSC’s first title this season.
Feni Soccer Club fought gallantly to hold MSC goalless for two hours
as neither regulation nor extra time produced a goal at the
Bangabandhu National Stadium.The match witnessed concerted attacks and sudden counter-attacks.
MSC missed an early opportunity to go one-up with Towhidul Alam Sobuj
pounding straight into Feni goalkeeper, Md. Nehal, in the sixth
minute.
MSC captain Zahid Hasan Emily cut in through the left and curled back
one to Zahid Hossain waiting at the edge of the box.
But Zahid blasted it over the bar in the 21st minute with only the
custodian to beat.
Then it was Emily who failed to head home an Arup Baidya cross with
just two minutes left for half-time.
The Feni boys came back all guns blazing after the breather.
Chuka Charles latched on to a pass in the MSC box unmarked, but
delayed shooting quickly and his shit was deflected by a defender
three minutes after half-time.
Feni Soccer laboured on and their Gambian forward Landing Barboe left
fly a powerful 25-yarder that was fisted away by Mohammedan goalkeeper
Mamun Khan .
But MSC came back firing in extra-time; their attacking midfielder
Zongo Ousseni (from Burkina Faso) blasted wide from the centre of the
box.
Feni came back again, but Chuka Charles could not convert the last big
chance of the day, shooting out towards the dying moments of the
match.
But it was real bad start to the tie-breaker for Feni when Mamun Khan
stopped a Kabba Jobe scorcher. With all others scoring in the
tie-breaker that is what that led them down.
Emily, Damien Chigozie, Habibur Rahman Shohag, Ossuseni Zongo and Obum
Henry scored for Mohammedan while Mathew Mendy, Abdullah al Mamun,
Chuka Charles and Landing Darboe scored for Feni Soccer.
MSC midfielder Zongo Ousseni was adjudged Man of the final Match.
Feni Soccer’s goalkeeper Md. Nehal was pronounced the Most Valuable
Player of the Tournament.
Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra claimed the Fair Play trophy in the
competition.
MSC coach Rui José Capela Batista, although delighted by the title,
appeared disappointed with his midfielders.
“Our side had chances to win within the regulation time. It dragged
into the tie-breaker because the players missed too many chances, but
a win is a win,” Batista said after the match.
“We were badly in need of a title and I believe this will motivate the
boys for the upcoming tournaments.”
Feni Soccer’s Gambian coach Omar K Sise was content with his team’s
fighting performance in such a big match.
“The players tried hard but we couldn’t succeed. But the fight they
put up was a huge achievement for us.” – bdnews24.com
