Kings and Mohammedan Secure Federation Cup Semi-final Berths

The Federation Cup group stage reached a decisive conclusion today as defending champions Bashundhara Kings and the historic Mohammedan Sporting Club secured their places in the semi-finals. Competing under “must-win” scenarios at the Kings Arena and Cumilla respectively, both giants of Bangladeshi football delivered commanding performances to progress. Following four matches, both clubs finished with eight points from two wins and two draws; however, Bashundhara Kings claimed the top spot in the group on goal difference, leaving Mohammedan SC as runners-up.

Dorielton Dominates at Kings Arena

At their home ground, Bashundhara Kings dismantled Police FC with a 4-1 victory, headlined by a spectacular four-goal haul from Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomez. Despite the final scoreline, Police FC had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty. However, Paulo Henry’s strike rebounded off the corner of the crossbar.

The momentum shifted during first-half injury time when Dorielton converted a penalty to put the Kings ahead. The second half saw a relentless offensive display from the Brazilian, who added three more goals—one via a header and two through clinical placing shots. This took his seasonal tally to 20 goals. Police FC managed a consolation goal in the dying minutes, but the defeat confirmed their exit from the tournament.

Mohammedan Triumph in Cumilla

Simultaneously, in Cumilla, Mohammedan Sporting Club recorded a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Arambagh Sporting Club. Jewel Mia opened the scoring in the 40th minute, providing the traditional “Black and Whites” with a narrow half-time lead. The second half belonged to Sourav Dewan, who exploited a crumbling Arambagh defence to net a hat-trick and guarantee his side’s progression to the final four.

Federation Cup Group Standings

Internal Friction and Administrative Challenges

Despite the victory, Bashundhara Kings face internal scrutiny regarding unpaid wages for foreign players. Last Friday, Dorielton and teammates Sunday and Tony reportedly sat out due to salary arrears. While Dorielton returned today, Sunday and Tony remained absent and have reportedly ceased training.

Head Coach Abu Jobayer Nipu addressed the funding issues post-match, stating that while delays occurred, the club is committed to fulfilling its financial obligations. He noted that the specific issues with Dorielton had been resolved, which boosted team morale. However, Nipu indicated that the club is considering sidelining Sunday and Tony for future matches due to “breaches of discipline.”

Furthermore, the match at Kings Arena was marred by poor infrastructure for the media. Journalists were forced to work in an open area in front of the VIP box as the official press box remains dilapidated, and the new facility is not yet functional. The lack of basic professional requirements, such as official line-ups and match data, drew significant criticism regarding the professional standards of the venue.