Last year’s runners-up Mohammedan Sporting Club got a big blow as their qualification to the knockout stage of the ongoing Bashundhara Group Federation Cup 2024-25 became uncertain after a 0-1 goal defeat to arch-rivals Abahani Ltd Dhaka in their third Group B match at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday.
Mohammedan, who consolidated the top spot of the 10-team Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25, suffered their second defeat in the Federation Cup on this day as they earlier suffered a 0-1 goal defeat to Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society in the group opener in December at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
Mohammedan’s two defeats threw them in the third position of the five-team Group after top-ranked Rahamatganj MFS and second-ranked Abahani with only three points from three matches. They will have only one match against Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club, scheduled to be held on 4 February at the Kings Arena.
On the other side, both Rahamatganj and Abahani brightened their chances for the semifinals as both of them earned 6 points each from their respective two wins. Both teams still have two matches.
However, forward Md Ibrahim struck the match-winning goal off a cross from another forward Shahriar Emon in the 74th minute of the match. The traditional black and white struggled a lot to change the game, but Abahani goalkeeper Mitul Marma ruined their all efforts.
In the day’s other match of this group, Chittagong Abahani Ltd shared points with Fakirerpool YMC as their match ended at 2-2 at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Midfielder Saiful Islam took a lead for Ctg Abahani in the 13th minute but Uzbek forward Akobir Turaev levelled the margin in the 21st minute while midfielder Shanto Tudu extended the margin in the 73rd minute for Fakirerpool.
Forward Tawhidul Alam Sabuz saved Ctg Abahoni with an equaliser in the 80th minute.
After the draw, both Ctg Abahani and Fakirerpool opened their account in the ongoing competition.
bd-pratidin/GR
