Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Police Football Club reached the semifinals of the Independence Cup Football beating their stronger opponents Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited by a solitary goal in their quarter-final match at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city’s Kamalapur on Sunday.
Earlier, Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club were stunned as they lost to Bangladesh Army in their group phase match.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh Police Football Club finished ninth in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football. Earlier, Police Football Club played in the semi-final of the Federation Cup Football last year. Sheikh Russel got a good number of chances but they failed to convert those.
Bangladesh Police Football Club’s Afghan recruit Sharifi scored the all-important goal by a header using his teammates Adil’s cross in the fourth minute of the play.
After conceding the goal, Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra tried to level the margin but they missed a lot of opportunities. Thus, they were out of title race.
Manik Hossain Molla of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra got the ball at the Police Football Club’s danger zone from Hemonto Vincent’s corner but Manik failed to utilize that chance in the 23rd minute of the match.
After four minutes, Police got an easy chance. Police Football Club’s Brazilian recruit Danilo failed to head a ball from a free-kick of his teammate Adil. Mannaf Rabbi of Sheikh Russel got a ball from a cross of his teammate Khalequzzaman but Rabbi capitalize the chance as he failed to struck a placing shot.
After two minutes, Bangladesh Police became 10-man team as Monaem Raju of Police roughly charged Hemnto. Thus, the referee showed a red card to Raju.
Sheikh Russel were awarded a penalty kick in the 52nd minute of the clash. But Police custodian Mohammad Nehal saved his team by resist the Sheikh Russel’s Brazilian recruit Machado’s spot-kick.
Hemento’s forceful shot was saved by Nehal in the 57th minute of the play. Thus Sheikh Russel failed to equalized the margin.
In the 62nd minute, Hemonto was showed second yellow card. Thus, it became red card for him.
