Grameenphone Federation Cup 2012

Muktis maul Noakhali in rematch

 

A depleted Muktijoddha Sangsad all but confirmed their quarterfinal berth in the Grameenphone Federation Cup when they handed an emphatic 7-1 defeat to Noakhali Football Academy in the rematch at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The freedom fighters side just need a point from their last Group B match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to ensure the last eight but they will be through before playing their last match if Noakhali FA lose to Sheikh Jamal on Thursday.
Veteran midfielder Azmal Hossain Biddut struck twice while Jewel Rana, Faisal Mahmud, Shihab, Mohammad Biplob and Shaymal Ahmed Rony netted one goal for Muktijoddha Sangsad while Murad scored a consolation goal for Noakhali FA.
Following the power outage at the BNS on Saturday, the match between Muktijoddha and Noakhali FA was called off with Muktijoddha Sangsad leading 2-0 until the 73rd minute. It looked like the rematch might turn into a potential banana skin as the Muktis failed to make much headway in the first half with a re-jigged team missing the likes of national stars like Zahid Hasan Emily, Mithun Chowdhury, Mamunul Islam, Shakil Ahmed, Ariful Islam and Rezaul Karim who hand all left the All Reds this season.
But the scenario totally changed in the second half and Muktijoddha Sangsad just toyed with the team from outside the capital and opened the floodgate six minutes into the second half through Jewel Rana before Biddut struck two successive goals inside six minutes to make it 3-0.
Faisal Mahmud joined the party with a curving cross that found the back of the Noakhali net in the 61st that forced Noakhali to bring a change under the post but the new goalkeeper Minhaz could not stop Muktijoddha and was sent off two minutes from time after handling the ball outside the box.
Substitute Shihab and Biplob widened the margin scoring in 74th and 75th minute before Noakhali pulled back one goal with Murad converting a penalty in the 79th minute.
Winger Shaymal Ahmed Rony sealed the match by scoring from a goal-mouth melee five minutes from time.