Bangladesh’s domestic competitions are not producing forwards who steal the spotlight in big matches. Goals in lopsided fixtures, played in front of empty stands, do little to prepare players for the intensity of international football.
After leading Bashundhara Kings to Federation Cup title defence as captain, central defender -- even becoming the joint-top scorer -- Tapu Barman was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
In the highly anticipated match at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, neither Kings nor Abahani could create any clear-cut chances in the first half, but the holders headed to the interval with an extra-man advantage.
Brothers last made it to the semifinals in 2005 when they won their third Federation Cup title.
Last season’s runners-up Mohammedan stumbled to a 1-0 defeat against Rahmatganj MFS in Dhaka, while 12-time champions Abahani showcased their dominance in a commanding 3-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani in Cumilla.
Mohammedan Sporting Club finished the season as runners-up in the Bangladesh Premier League for the first time in 14 years after finishing runners-up in two club competitions. Alfaz Ahmed, the man behind the resurgence of the Motijheel outfit, spoke with The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman about the process of rebuilding Mohammedan and many other aspects.
Jahid first-ever goal in top flight became a memorable one.
Bashundhara Kings and their loyal band of travelling fans were ecstatic at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh yesterday as the club added the Federation Cup to the Independence Cup and the Bangladesh Premier League following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Favourites Bashundhara Kings will look to add a new feather to their burgeoning cap when they take on defending champions Mohammedan in the final of the Federation Cup at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh today.
Kings are now aiming to win a treble -- a feat only achieved by Sheikh Russell in the 2012-13 season.
Defending champions Mohammedan came from behind to confirm their final berth in the Federation Cup with a 2-1 win over Bangladesh Police FC in the first semifinal at the Shaheed Birshreshtha Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Tuesday.
Hot favourites Bashundhara Kings survived a scare to move into the semifinals of Federation Cup with a 2-0 win over Rahmatganj MFS in the second quarterfinal in Gopalganj on Tuesday.
Holders Mohammedan Sporting Club survived a scare to advance to the Federation Cup semifinals, defeating Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra 2-1 in the first quarterfinals in Gopalganj on Tuesday.
A second-half brace from Emmanuel Sunday powered defending champions Mohammedan to a 2-1 win over Abahani, thereby clainching the top spot in Group B, on the final match day of group stage of the Federation Cup at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday.
Record 12-time champions Abahani and defending champions Mohammedan secured their quarterfinal spots in the Federation Cup with victories in their Group B matches on Monday.
National forward Faisal Ahmed Fahim scored for the first time this season to guide Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to the quarterfinals of the Federation Cup as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Rahmatganj MFS in Dhaka today.
Abahani's Brazilian forward Washington Brandao hit season’s first hattrick.
Meanwhile, Rahmatganj MFS came from behind twice to tie 2-2 with Bangladesh Police FC in Munshiganj, after losing 2-1 to the same opponents in the quarterfinals of the recently concluded Independence Cup.
The 34th edition of the tournament will get underway on December 26
