Mohammedan fall to Sheikh Russel

Sheikh Russel brought down high-flying Mohammedan to emerge group champions in Independence Cup with a 3-0 win in Group A decider at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Monday.

Following victories over Bangladesh Navy and Fortis FC, a rejuvenated Mohammedan needed just a draw to emerge group champions but they had to be content with a second-place finish to Sheikh Russel, who drew 1-1 against Fortis FC and beat Navy 2-0 in the first two matches.

The charges of Julfiker Mahmud Mintu took a second-minute lead when Charles Didier Brossou nodded an Mfon Udoh corner home, giving no chance to Mohammedan goalkeeper Ahsan Habib.

Mohammad Ibrahim doubled Sheikh Russel's lead in the 51st minute with a left-footed strike from inside the box after availing a defence-splitting through ball from Udoh before the Nigerian sealed victory in the 59th minute.

In the day's other dead-rubber, Fortis FC got a 3-1 win over Navy, who ended their campaign with three defeats.

Shakhawat Hossain Rony gave Navy a 7th-minute lead with a back-header off a long throw-in from Raihan Hasan but the lead lasted only 10 minutes, thanks to a fumble from a fellow Navy defender, who deposited the ball in to Amiruddin Sharifi's foot. The Afghan forward did not make any mistake in levelling the margin in the 17th minute. Sharifi doubled the lead from the spot in the 41st minute before Luiz Carlos wrapped up the victory with a near-post shot from a difficult angle. Fortis were eliminated despite having collected four points from three matches.