Kings earn first glory in Dhaka football

Bashundhara Kings clinched the Independence Cup title after beating Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra 2-1 with an extra-time winner in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Two spectacular goals in the entertaining opening half by Bashundhara’s Brazilian forward Marcos Vinicius and Russel’s Nigerian forward Raphael Odoyin ended the stipulated time in 1-1 before super substitute Motin Mia sealed the winner in the extra time.

Marcos returned to full swing from injury by scoring his first goal of the tournament with a stunner resulting in Russel conceding the first goal of the meet as well. Nigerian forward Raphael Odoyin cancelled out the lead with another long-ranger in the added time of the first half.

The opening half was full of attacks from both the sides especially after Marcos took the lead in the 17th minute and with Russel attacking more for the equalizer. The second half was more subdued with Titu’s defence becoming more compact to reduce Marcos and Daniel Colindres threats.

Motin replaced defender Saddam Hossain Anny during the second half and stole the show in the fifth minute of the extra time. Motin snatched the ball from another youngster Biplo Ahmed at the edge of the box before converting the chance into the far post with a low curved drive.

Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon admitted at the pre-match presser about how important it is for his side to get a fully-recovered Marcos up front and the Brazilian repaid the faith at the beginning. Kyrgyz international Baktiyar Duishobekov started straight into the back-four to boost up the defence after arriving in Dhaka the previous night from national team duty.  

Russel’s in-form Uzbek forward Alisher Azizov failed to shine like he did in the previous two matches. However, Raphael Odoyin created some chances inside Bashundhara’s defence but those went in vein due to poor finishing touches. Odoyin was a threat from the beginning as he started by hitting the sidenet from close range.

Marcos took the lead with a stunning left-footer from 25-yards. Exchanging passes with Emon Babu, the Brazilian delivered a screamer from the right flank that found the net through top left corner giving Russel custodian Ashraful Islam Rana no chance.

Colindres didn’t have enough space against a tight defence led by Nigerian center-backs Alison Udoka and Yeasin Khan. He was seen going close only once in the first half but Rana was ready to grip the volley from outside the box.

Marcos showed off his skill once again in the 28th minute while receiving a long cross from Colindres but his shot was blocked by Rana at the near post. Odoyin dribbled past veteran defender Nasir Uddin Chowdhury at the left corner of the box but squandered the chance shooting straight to in-form national custodian Anisur Rahman Zico.

Zico, whose heroics in the tiebreaker earned his team victories in both knock-out encounters, made another fine save in the 42nd minute denying Yeamin’s shot outside the box.

Odoyin finally equalized the margin in the first minute of added time, unleashing a powerful strike from around 25-yards fired into top right corner giving a diving Zico no chance.

Odoyin couldn’t carry the consistency in the latter half as the Nigerian forward wasted a couple of chances in the span of ten minutes. He first shot straight to defender in the 67th minute and later failed to connect an excellent Alex Rafael’s cross.

After Biplo’s blunder gifted Motin the winner in the 30 minutes of extra time, it was Rana who produced a fine save to deny Colindres effort outside the box, making sure they finished the tournament conceding only two goals.

Anisur Rahman Zico was adjudged the best player of the tournament while Marcos became the player of the final. Arambagh’s Paul Emile bagged the top scorer’s award with four goals. 

Result

Sheikh Russel KC 1 (Odovin 45+1')            

Bashundhara Kings 2   (Vinícius   16', Matin Mia   95')