Kings emerge group winners

The quarterfinal lineup of Federation Cup completed when Bashundhara Kings handed a 2-0 defeat to Chittagong Abahani to emerge Group B champions at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday.

Despite the first defeat in third match, the port-city outfit emerged group B runners-up to progress to the last eight berth while Muktijoddha Sangsad defeated Fortis FC 2-1 at Shaheed Birshreshtha Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj to qualify for the quarterfinals from the same group as one of two best third finishers in the 11-team tournament.

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In Cumilla, Bashundhara Kings dominated the match to have scored one goal apiece either side of the break as Tapu Barman tapped in rebounder home from close after a Suman Reza header off a Yeasin Arafat header came off the crossbar in the 40th minute. 

Ten minutes into the second half, Brazilian forward Miguel Ferreira converted from the spot to notch up three wins in a row after defender Mohammad Rocky handled the ball inside the box.

In Munshiganj, Fortis FC needed an outright victory to put behind Muktijoddha Sangsad to seal a place as one of best two third-finisher but the freedom fighters' side finally succeeded with Nigerian forward Emmanuel Ikechukwu breaking the deadlock in the 44th minute before substitute Sabuj Hossain cancelled out Muktijoddha Sangsad's lead in the 85th minute.

Though the stalemate was good enough for Fortis FC to progress to the last eighth berth, Muktijoddha Sangsad broke the hearts of Fortis in the stoppage time with Burundi forward Selemani Landry netting the winning goal two minutes of the stoppage time in the second half.