Mohammedan SC beat Brothers Union 1-0
Sunday, 22 July 2007
A late goal by Christina Emeka guided title aspirant Mohammedan to a solitary goal win over Brothers Union Club in the high-voltage second phase match of the B League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city Saturday, reports UNB.
With this much-needed win, the popular 'black & white' Motijheel outfit secured 38 points from 18 matches to join the top slot in the league table with arch-rivals Abahani Limited who played one match less, thus keeping their title hope alive.
On the other hand, Brothers Union remained at 23 points from 18 outings.
Earlier, in the first phase, Mohammedan SC also edged past Brothers Union Club by a lone goal.
After the match, Mohammedan SC coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said they now have a fair chance to be champions in the maiden league. "We'll be taking the two remaining matches very seriously… Even if we win all the two matches, still we'll have to wait for Abahani's results," he added.
Manik expressed his satisfaction over the day's performance, saying: "The boys played absolutely superb."
Brothers Union Club coach Syed Nayeenuddin said his boys could not play well in the slippery outfield. "We missed some scoring chances in the beginning of the match."
Brothers Union team manager Amer Khan said the match against Mohammedan SC was a "matter of prestige for us, as we failed to win any match against the big teams in the league. But again we failed to win."
After a barren first half, Nigerian recruit Emeka scored the all-important goal for Mohammedan SC by an angular shot from just outside the D-box as his compatriot Divine's long distance shot came his way in the 65th minute after opponent goalkeeper Mohammed Ali fisted the ball (1-0).
Both the teams launched a number of attacks and counter-attacks and missed many scoring chances.
Mohammedan SC came close to score in the 9th minute, but a powerful shot taken by Nigerian recruit Divine from around 15 yards was saved superbly by Brothers goalie for a corner.
The 'black & white' outfit missed another chance in the 37th minute when a superb Divine header from inside the danger zone off a Peter right wing cross narrowly missed the target.
Emeka must consider him unlucky when his powerful shot from around 10 yards was saved by custodian Mohammead Ali at the cost of corner in the dying moment of the match.
Brothers Union Club got a real chance in the 29th minute, but Junior' s header from close off a Liton right wing cross was griped superbly by custodian Himel.
Himel again foiled another Brothers Union attack as Junior's close range shot off a Mamun pass in the 41st minute.
Mohammean SC: Himel, Arif, Peter, Biplob, Kamal, Divine, Mithu, (Rony), Sharif, Paul (Farhad), Emeka and Zahid.
Brothers Union Club: Ali, Rony, Shuvra, Jewel, Mamun, Masud, Liton (Tapu), Faisal, Inani, Junior and Jalal (Rintu)
Yellow cards: Kamal, Divine and Zahid (Mohammedan SC); Rony, Junior (Bothers Union Club).
Referee: MA Mansur Azad
With this much-needed win, the popular 'black & white' Motijheel outfit secured 38 points from 18 matches to join the top slot in the league table with arch-rivals Abahani Limited who played one match less, thus keeping their title hope alive.
On the other hand, Brothers Union remained at 23 points from 18 outings.
Earlier, in the first phase, Mohammedan SC also edged past Brothers Union Club by a lone goal.
After the match, Mohammedan SC coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said they now have a fair chance to be champions in the maiden league. "We'll be taking the two remaining matches very seriously… Even if we win all the two matches, still we'll have to wait for Abahani's results," he added.
Manik expressed his satisfaction over the day's performance, saying: "The boys played absolutely superb."
Brothers Union Club coach Syed Nayeenuddin said his boys could not play well in the slippery outfield. "We missed some scoring chances in the beginning of the match."
Brothers Union team manager Amer Khan said the match against Mohammedan SC was a "matter of prestige for us, as we failed to win any match against the big teams in the league. But again we failed to win."
After a barren first half, Nigerian recruit Emeka scored the all-important goal for Mohammedan SC by an angular shot from just outside the D-box as his compatriot Divine's long distance shot came his way in the 65th minute after opponent goalkeeper Mohammed Ali fisted the ball (1-0).
Both the teams launched a number of attacks and counter-attacks and missed many scoring chances.
Mohammedan SC came close to score in the 9th minute, but a powerful shot taken by Nigerian recruit Divine from around 15 yards was saved superbly by Brothers goalie for a corner.
The 'black & white' outfit missed another chance in the 37th minute when a superb Divine header from inside the danger zone off a Peter right wing cross narrowly missed the target.
Emeka must consider him unlucky when his powerful shot from around 10 yards was saved by custodian Mohammead Ali at the cost of corner in the dying moment of the match.
Brothers Union Club got a real chance in the 29th minute, but Junior' s header from close off a Liton right wing cross was griped superbly by custodian Himel.
Himel again foiled another Brothers Union attack as Junior's close range shot off a Mamun pass in the 41st minute.
Mohammean SC: Himel, Arif, Peter, Biplob, Kamal, Divine, Mithu, (Rony), Sharif, Paul (Farhad), Emeka and Zahid.
Brothers Union Club: Ali, Rony, Shuvra, Jewel, Mamun, Masud, Liton (Tapu), Faisal, Inani, Junior and Jalal (Rintu)
Yellow cards: Kamal, Divine and Zahid (Mohammedan SC); Rony, Junior (Bothers Union Club).
Referee: MA Mansur Azad