Title-favourites Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club got off to winning starts in the Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.
Abahani Limited rode a hat-trick from Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison to cruise to a 3-0 victory against Rahamatganj MFS just 24 hours after sacking their Australian coach Nathan Hall, while Haitian marksman Sony Norde netted both goals to give his new club Sheikh Jamal a 2-0 victory over Uttar Baridhara.
Morrison, the top scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League last season, also marked the beginning of last season with a hat-trick in the league while playing for Mohammedan.
The Ghanaian striker opened his account in the 17th minute by flicking a cross from Towhidul Alam from the left flank into the back of the net.
Abahani, playing a 4-2-3-1 formation under the guidance of stand-in coach Amalesh Sen, continued to make life hard for second-tier Rahmatganj, who fielded a side without any foreign players.
Abahani failed to take two more clear chances before Morrison increased the margin to 2-0 in the 42nd minute. Morrison received a through-ball from Cameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick and sent the ball into the net.
He completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute after Rahamatganj goalkeeper Al-Amin failed to clear the ball properly and Morrison sent the ball into the empty net.
Morrison said after the match that he was not fully fit before taking the field.
`The consequence is tough because I just came here five days ago and I’m not 100 percent fit,’ said the striker.
`I target 15 goals [in the league] and I’m hopeful to do that. I’m doing everything to keep myself fit and the club is also very helpful,’ said a confident Morrison.
Meanwhile, a power-house Sheikh Jamal side had to be content with just a two-goal margin of victory over newly-promoted Uttar Baridhara in the second match of the opening day.
Norde, one of the architects of Sheikh Russell’s treble-triumph last season, started the new season for Sheikh Jamal in the same mode by scoring two early goals in the match.
Norde converted a penalty kick in the 23rd minute after he was brought down inside the box by Uttar Baridhara defender Mohammadullah Dalim.
He doubled the lead two minutes later with a solo effort after receiving a through-pass from Shohel Rana from the midfield.
After taking a 2-0 lead, Sheikh Jamal played defensively and allowed Uttar Baridhara enough room to go on the attack.
Sheikh Jamal were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute when Shohel saw a straight red card after elbowing an opposition player, but the promoted club failed to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
BROADCAST
Abahani Ltd 3
(Morrison 17, 42, 76 min) v
Rahmatganj MFS 0;
Sheikh Jamal DC 2
(Sony Norde 24, 26 min) v
Uttar Baridhara Club 0.
-With New Age input