Bashundhara, Sheikh Russel reach semifinals

Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Russel KC moved into the semifinals of Bashundhara Group Independence Cup with victories over Mohammedan and Chittagong Abahani respectively yesterday.

Bashundhara Kings eliminated record three-time champions Mohammedan with a 2-0 victory in the second quarterfinal at the Birshreshtha Flt Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, with Rakib Hossain Robson Robinho scoring the two goals.

Rakib gave Kings a 34th-minute lead, profiting from confusion in the Mohammedan box in dealing with a long ball. Robson then wrapped up the victory with an excellent curling effort from the top of the box in the 82nd minute.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Russel KC beat Chittagong Abahani in the other quarterfinal of the day, smashing home from close after a long-range effort took a deflection inside the box in the 82nd minute.