Saif and Tudu Power Gon University into Final

Gon University stormed into the final of the Ispahani–Prothom Alo Third Inter-University Football Tournament with a commanding and clinical performance at the Dhaka National Stadium, overpowering Chittagong Independent University by an emphatic 6–0 scoreline. The victory was driven by an outstanding hat-trick from Saif Samshud and a clinical brace from tournament top-scorer Rafael Tudu, underlining Gon University’s status as one of the most formidable sides in the competition.

The final is scheduled for 15 December at 2:30 pm, where Gon University will face American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) in what promises to be a high-quality contest between experience and resilience.

Earlier in the day, AIUB secured their place in the final following a dramatic semi-final encounter against Far East International University. After the match ended 2–2 at the conclusion of regulation time, AIUB prevailed 6–5 in the penalty shootout, displaying remarkable composure under pressure. Notably, AIUB had fallen behind twice during normal play and were even trailing at one stage during the shootout before staging a spirited comeback.

In stark contrast, the second semi-final proved to be a one-sided affair. Although Chittagong Independent University—appearing in their first-ever semi-final—started brightly and launched several early attacks, Gon University’s superior organisation and experience soon took control of the match.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, when Saif Samshud calmly converted his opportunity to open the scoring. Hira Ghosh doubled the lead in the 35th minute, before Saif struck again just before the interval to give Gon University a commanding 3–0 halftime advantage. The second half belonged entirely to the favourites. In the 52nd minute, Rafael Tudu produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving past multiple defenders to score a stunning solo goal. Saif completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute, and Tudu sealed the rout with a late strike, completing a dominant display.

Goal Timeline

Tudu, who had already scored hat-tricks in the previous two matches, now leads the tournament’s scoring chart with eight goals in four appearances, while Saif Samshud was deservedly named Man of the Match.

Gon University’s success was built on both flair and experience. Their squad included seasoned domestic-league players such as Rahul Hossain (PWD goalkeeper), Sifat Shahriar (Rahmatganj), Sabbir Hossain (Fakirerpool Youngmen’s Club), and Rifat Hasan, formerly of PWD in the Championship League.

The Man of the Match award was presented in the presence of distinguished guests, including former national team captain Ashrafuluddin Ahmed Chunnu, Gon University Registrar Engineer Wahiduzzaman, Ispahani Tea Limited’s Marketing General Manager Omar Hannan, former national captain Biplob Bhattacharjee, and Prothom Alo Sports Editor Utpal Shuvro.