Saif SC reach quarterfinals eliminating Sheikh Jamal 3-1
The day’s result also assured the quarterfinal berth of Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society which played two successive draws in their three-team group stage.
Saif Sporting Club reached the quarterfinals of the ongoing TVS 31st Federation Cup Football Tournament beating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited by 3-1 goals in their nail-biting Group C match at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
National defender Yeasin Arafat, Tajik forward Jahangir Ergashev and Kyrgyz midfielder Murolimzhon Akhmedov scored one goal each for Saif SC while Gambian defender Pa Omar Jobe netted the lone goal for Sheikh Jamal.
The day's result also assured the quarterfinal berth of Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society which played two successive draws in their three-team group stage.
Rahmatganj MFS played a goalless (0-0) draw with Saif SC in their first match and played 1-1 draw with Sheikh Jamal DC in their second.
Group C Champions Saif SC will now play against Group A Runners-up Bangladesh Police Football Club in the third quarterfinal on December 31 while Group C Runners-up Rahmatganj MFS will play against Group A Champions Dhaka Abahani Limited in the first quarterfinal on December 30, both at the same venue.
Both Saif and Sheikh Jamal started to play attacking football from the very beginning of the day's must-win match.
Sheikh Jamal DC bagged the first success while their Gambian defender Pa Omar Jobe scored for with right-footer drive inside the box, off a pass from Gambian forward Solomon King Kanform in the 9th minute (1-0).
After conceding the goal, Saif SC started to play aggressive football. Just after five minutes, national defender Yeasin Arafat levelled the margin for his side with a header from goalmouth melee in the 14th minute (1-1).
Despite producing several eye-catching efforts, both teams remained goalless.
In the 85th minute, Saif SC got chance a golden chance while they were rewarded a penalty by referee Anisur Rahman due to a controversial handball of Nigerian defender and captain of Sheikh Jamal Osagie Monday. Tajik forward Jahangir made no mistake this time to convert the goal correctly (2-1).
In the stoppage time, Kyrgyz midfielder Akhmedov netted the third goal for Saif SC with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box (3-1).