The Daily Star fell just short of retaining their title in the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) football tournament, being defeated 3-2 on penalties by Bangla Vision in the 34-team tournament's final at the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Gulistan today.

Defending a title they won six years ago, The Daily Star eased past Sangbad Pratidin earlier in the day with a 3-0, looking primed for the final.

The experienced Mohammed Al-Amin bagged a goal and was adjudged the man of the match in the semifinal, with the sleek Fazlur Rahman and midfield maestro Hasan Jahid Tusher scoring the others.

However neither team managed to produce a goal in regulation time of the final and, in the lottery of the shootout, Bangla Vision emerged on top with goalkeeper Dipen Dewan making some fine saves to be adjudged the man of the match.

The tournament, organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and sponsored by Walton Group began on August 28 with 34 teams representing various print, electronic media, news agencies and online media houses of Bangladesh.