Redemption for Topu and Kings

After flicking home Miguel Ferreira's corner from an unmarked position inside the box to draw Bashundhara Kings level in their Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup fixture against Mohammedan at the Bashundhara Kings Arena last night, Topu Barman made a shushing gesture to the crowd as if he was celebrating in front of opposition fans.

The goal came in the 73rd minute of the match, right after a lengthy hold-up in play due to flares thrown onto the pitch, and there was no looking back for the five-time Bangladesh Premier League champions since then.

Two more goals -- Faysal Ahmed Fahim's side-volley on a Ferreira cross in 81st minute and then Ferreira's top-notch finish in the seventh minute of the 18-minute stoppage-time capped off a superb fightback for last season's treble winners.

While it was a redemption for Kings who had lost all three of their AFC Challenge Cup fixtures last month under new coach Valeriu Tite, it was also some sort of redemption for Topu, who had copped considerable amount of flak for his performances with the Kings and the national team recently.

Topu, not at his usual best in recent times, was at fault for Bangladesh conceding the first goal in an eventual 2-1 win against Maldives at this venue a week ago.

When asked about his celebration, Topu said there was 'noise' from the galleries which he tried to shut with his celebration.

"It was a relief," Topu said after the match. "I admit I was at fault for that goal against Bangladesh. We were under some pressure as a team after going down in the first half. There was noise from the galleries, and my celebration was a reaction to that."

"This was a very important match for us. We had lost three matches in Bhutan (AFC Challenge Cup). And we conceded early here. So we were under pressure. Plus Mohammedan are never an easy opponent. So I believe this win will boost our confidence in the upcoming tournaments," said Topu, who was adjudged the player of the match.

The inaugural match of the season which was named Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup to pay homage to the martyrs of July Movement, started with a minute's silence to July Martyrs as well as former national team skipper Zakaria Pintoo, who passed away recently.

The contest was a tale of two halves. Mohammedan, who had finished second to Kings in all three competitions last season, were clearly the better team all through the first half, and deservedly took a seventh-minute lead through a towering header from captain Souleymane Diabate.

But the Black and Whites sort of went into a shell in the second half as the Kings once again showed their bouncebackability with three wonderful goals.

Mohammedan coach Alfaz Ahmed did not admit that his team went defensive in the second half, instead said the throwing of flares and the subsequent hold-up of play was the turning point of the match.

"It is never easy to win at this venue against the Bashundhara Kings. The ground, the atmosphere and their familiarity with it make them almost invincible here," the former national team striker, who has guided the Black and Whites through a resurgence in recent years, said.

"However, the break in play was the turning point for me. Our concentration and flow of play was broken because of it," Alfaz added.

The match was attended by Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, who handed over the prizes to the teams. Later the prize money from the match, -- Tk 25 lac -- were donated to the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation.