Chittagong Abahani Limited shared points with newcomers Saif Sports Club as the opening match of the 12-team Walton Independence Cup Football Tournament ended in 1-1 draw at the country’s premier sports venue — Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu inaugurated the meet in the afternoon.
When the match was almost heading for a goalless draw, two surprise and quick goals by two teams in the stoppage time helped the both to put their names in the scorer list, but failed to change fate of the match.
After the scheduled 90 minutes of the play, Masuk Miah put Chittagong Abahani ahead in the 92nd minute (1-0) while Jewel Rana restored the parity for Saif SC the following minute of the stoppage time from a penalty (1-1).
On Wednesday, BPL runners-up Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will encounter Dhaka Mohammedan SC at 3:30pm while BPL champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will face Team BJMC in the day’s other match at 5:45pm.
Twelve participating teams are:
Group A- Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Rahmatganj MFS and Dhaka Mohammedan SC Group B- Brothers Union, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Farashganj SC Group C- Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Sheikh Russel KC and Team BJMC
Group D- Chittagong Abahani Ltd, Arambagh KS and Saif Sporting Club (1-0) while Jewel Rana restored the parity for Saif SC in the following minute of the stoppage (93rd) from a penalty (1-1).
All the 12 participating teams of the just concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football are taking part in the tournament, sponsored by Walton Group.
All the participating teams will receive appearance money of Tk 2 lakh each.
The champion team will receive prize money of Tk 5 lakh while the runners-up team Tk 3 lakh.
The highest scorer and the best player of the tournament will be awarded with freezes while the best player of the final will get a 28″ LED TV.
Fixture of the first round group matches:
Jan 16: Chittagong Abahani vs Saif Sporting Club (3:30)
Brothers Union vs Farashganj SC (5:45 pm
Jan 17: Sheikh Jamal DC vs Dhaka Mohammedan SC (3:30)
Dhaka Abahani Ltd vs Team BJMC (5:45 pm)
Jan 18 : Saif Sporting vs Arambagh KS (3:30 pm
Farashganj SC vs Muktijoddha SKC (5:45 pm)
Jan 19 : Team BJMC vs Sheikh Russel KC (3:30 pm )
Dhaka Mohammedan vs Rahmatganj MFS (5:45 pm)
Jan 20 : Muktijoddha SKC vs Brothers Union (4:pm)
Jan 24: Rahmatganj MFS vs Sheikh Jamal DC (4:pm)
Jan 25: Sheikh Russel vs Dhaka Abahani Ltd (4:pm)
Jan 26 Arambagh KS vs Chittagong Abahani Ltd (4:pm)
No match will not held from January 21 to 23 due to AFC Cup matches here.
