United News of Bangladesh

Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time. PSG won the trophy, also known as the French Super Cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league. “The result reflects our domination,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said, while Monaco coach Adi Hütter conceded PSG played better. “A goal in the last minute always feels like a knife in the back,” Hütter said. “PSG deserved to win if we're being honest, they had more chances.” The match took place at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011. Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves. Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson. Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz's cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000. Marseille marches on Marseille strengthened its grip on second place in the French league, moving three points ahead of third-place Monaco after routing Le Havre 5-1 at home. Read: Jiménez scores twice as Fulham secures a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Ghana's Andre Ayew was on the wing for Le Havre against his former club. He scored 60 goals in 209 games for Marseille from 2007-15 and won two League Cups. His brother, Jordan Ayew, and his father — Abedi Pele — both played for the club. Marseille opened the scoring against 17th-place Le Havre in the 25th minute when midfielder Valentin Rongier drilled a low shot into the left corner from 20 meters out. Rongier's rare strike was followed by a first league goal for midfielder Bilal Nadir, who turned neatly before arrowing a shot in off the left post in the 39th. It was a special moment for Nadir, who ruptured his left ACL one year ago and was given a new contract by the club as a show of faith. Moments before halftime, striker Neal Maupay headed in from close range and Mason Greenwood broke down the right to set up substitute Elye Wahi midway through the second half. Ulisses Garcia added the fifth goal for coach Roberto De Zerbi's side. Home fans at Stade Velodrome chanted Ayew's name after he headed in a consolation goal in the 85th. Ayew applauded the fans back when he went off moments later. PSG is seven points ahead of Marseille after 16 rounds. Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference. Read more: BPL Football: Mohammedan maintain all-win run Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd. The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off. Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot. Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time. Strasbourg's goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.

Raul Jimenez scored a 91st-minute penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Fulham against Ipswich in the Premier League on Sunday. It was Jimenez's second penalty of the match as Fulham twice came from a goal down at Craven Cottage. Relegation-fighting Ipswich went ahead through Sam Szmodics in the 38th and Jimenez leveled from the spot in the 69th. Ipswich went in front again through Liam Delap's penalty in the 71st and looked like climbing out of the relegation zone. But when Jimenez was brought down by Leif Davis in the box, referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot again. Jimenez made no mistake and fired into the top corner to share the points. Fulham is ninth and six points off the top four, while Ipswich is 17th and below Wolverhampton on goal difference, having played a game more.

Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained their solo lead in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football with all-win record outplaying Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 5-1 goals at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Saturday afternoon. With the day's sixth consecutive win, the traditional black and whites Mohammedan comfortably dominated the league table securing full 18 points from straight six matches while Chittagong Abahani remained at the bottom losing all the six matches. After barren first half in the day's match, Burkina Faso defender Mounzir Coulidiati put the Mohammedan SC ahead in the 47th minute (1-0); Nigerian booter Sunday Emmanuel doubled the margin in the 55th minute (2-0); Sourav Dewan scored twice in the 63rd and 90th minutes (4-0) while Chittang Abahani defender Salim Reza scored a suicidal goal in the 85th minute (5-0). Mohammedan were restricted to 10-man in the 22nd minute of the match as their defender SA Topu got marching order after receiving 2nd yellow card in the match Imtiaz Sultan Jitu scored the lone goal for Chittagong Abahani in the 90+6 minute from a penalty (5-1). In the day's other match, Rahmatganj MFS, riding on a double hattrick by Ghana striker Samuel Boateng, remained at the 2nd slot in the league table crushing Dhaka Wanderers Club by 6-1 goals at the Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Saturday afternoon. Ghana forward Samuel Boateng made the first double hattrick in the ongoing league scoring all the six goals in the 23rd, 37th, 44th, 63rd, 66th and 70th minutes. Saief Samsud scored the face saving goal fir the Wanderers Club in the 60th minute Six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited, without any foreign players, remained at the 3rd slot in the league table securing 13 points from six matches with four win, one draw and defeat. Brothers Union Club are in the 4th place with 11 points from six matches while holders Bashundhara Kings are struggling at the 5th slot securing 10 points from six matches with three win, one draw and two defeats.

Defending champions Bashundhara Kings earned the 3rd victory in their 6th match of the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, outplaying Bangladesh Police FC by 5-0 goals at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh on Friday. Despite the day's comfortable victory, star-studded Bashundhara Kings are struggling at the 5th slot securing 10 points from 6 matches with three wins, one draw and two defeats. In the day's match, Brazilian midfielder Jonathan Fernandes struck twice in the 10th and 38th minutes while local forwards Mojibor Rahman Jony and Rakib Hossain and Brazilian medio Miguel Damasceno netted one each in the 12th, 50th and 90+5 minutes respectively for last season's treble winners Kings, which clearly dominated the first half by 3-0 goals Police FC's Paraguay defender Moreno got marching order in the 85th minutes of the match. The day's other match between 6-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited and Fortis FC ended in a goalless draw at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka. With the day's maiden draw, Abahani Limited, without any foreign players, advanced to the 2nd slot on the league table securing 13 points from six matches with four wins, one draw and one defeat Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained the lead on the league table with all-win record securing full 15 points from straight five matches, playing one match less than Abahani; Rahmatganj MFS are in the 3rd slot with 12 points from five matches. In the day's remaining match, Brothers Union Club remained at the 4th slot with 11 points from six matches beating Yonugmen's Club Fakirerpool by 3-0 goals at the Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. Gambia forward Mustapha Drammeh (10th minute), Senegalese midfielder Cheikh Sene (34th) and local forward Sajjad Hossain (42nd) scored one each for the Gopibagh outfit Brothers, all in the first half.

The head coach of the 2022 SAFF Women’s champions Bangladesh team Golam Rabbani Choton returned the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) as head of the Youth Development and BFF Elite Football Academy. The 56-year-old successful coach of different age group women’s teams from Bogra district Choton, who resigned from the head coach position of Bangladesh Women’s Football team in May 2023, joined the BFF again recently with new and higher job initially for one year.  The 6th round of BPL Football begins Friday Choton, a former player of Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool, Arambagh KS and some other leading clubs, successful trained different women’s age group football teams and lastly the Bangladesh Army team. Addressing the local media after receiving BFF appointment letter on Thursday, Choton said, “My main focus is to develop the players so that they can reach the higher level” Federation Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings return to winning ways beating Police FC There will be some challenges and also scope to overcame it, the young players came here with dream, I will try my best to help them to fulfill their dreams.

The sixth-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited and defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play in the sixth round of the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football on Friday (January 3) at two separate venue across the country. Dhaka Abahani Limited will play Fortis FC at 2:45 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena while Bashundhara Kings will encounter Bangladesh Police FC also at 2:45 pm at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. Brothers Union Club will face Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool in Friday’s other match at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. After the 5th round matches, Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained the solo lead in the league table with all-win record securing full 15 points from straight five matches. Rahmatganj MFS and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd, without any foreign players, remained at 2nd slot securing 12 points each from five matches. But, in goal differences, Rahmatganj MFS were in the 2nd slot while Dhaka Abahani in the 3rd place. Brothers Union Club are in the 4th place with eight points while  defending champions Bashundhara Kings are struggling at the 5th place with seven points, also playing five matches each.

Fortis FC maintained the top slot while holders Bashundhara Kings returned to winning ways in the Group A of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament on Tuesday (December 31). After the 3rd group matches, giant killer Fortis SC maintained their top slot intact with an unbeaten run securing seven points while holders Bashundhara Kings remained at the 2nd slot with six points. Brothers Union Club followed them with three points from two matches. Defending champions Bashundhara Kings beat Bangladesh Police FC by 3-2 goals in their keenly contested 3rd Group A match at their home venue—Bashundhara Kings Arena--in Dhaka Tuesday afternoon. Last season's treble winners Bashundhara Kings, made a good start beating Brothers Union Club 1-0 in the tournament opener but tasted defeat in the 2nd match losing to mediocre Fortis FC by 0-2 goals at their home ground-- Bashundhara Kings Arena –last Tuesday. In the day's match, defender Topu Barman put the Kings ahead in the 7th minute (1-0) while Al Amin restored the parity for Police FC in the following minute (1-1). Brazilian forward Miguel Damasceno again took the Kings ahead in the 11th minute (2-1). Brazilian midfielder Jonathon Fernandes further sounded the Kings margin in the 53rd minute (3-1). Forward Al Amin of Police FC reduced margin scoring his 2nd goal in the 54th minute (3-2). In the day's other match, group leader Fortis FC earned a comfortable 3-0 goals victory over Dhaka Wanderers Club at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Tuesday afternoon. Joy Kumar struck twice in the 45+2 and 75th minutes (2-0) while Piash Ahmmed Nova netted the remaining goal for Fortis FC in the 89th minute (3-0) Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.

Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play Bangladesh Police FC in their 3rd Group A match of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football on Tuesday at 2:30 pm at their home venue—Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka. In the day’s other fixture, group leader Fortis FC will face Dhaka Wanderers Club at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. After two Group A matches, giant killer Fortis SC topped the list with unbeaten run securing four points after playing goalless draw with Police FC in the first match while holders Bashundhara Kings and Brothers Union Club followed the leader neck and neck with three points each. Star studded Bashundhara Kings, which made a good start beating Brothers Union Club 1-0 in the tournament opener, tasted the first defeat in their 2nd Group A match losing to mediocre Fortis FC by 0-2 goals at their home ground-- Bashundhara Kings Arena –last Tuesday. Incidentally, last season's treble winners Bashundhara Kings suffered a shocking 0-1 goal defeat against Dhaka Mohammedan SC also in their 2nd match of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football in Cumilla last week. In Group B, Rahmatganj MFS dominated the table securing full six from two matches while former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited and Dhaka Mohammedan SC followed the leaders securing three points each playing one and two matches respectively. Grouping of Federation Cup Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.

Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society and Dhaka Abahani Limited maintained their 2nd slot jointly in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football by winning their 5th round matches at two seperate venues across the country Saturday afternoon. Six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited, without any foreign player and in absence of injury grabbed main striker Sumon Reza, faced no trouble to beat Bangladesh Police FC by 2-0 goals at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Saturday afternoon. Forward Arman Foysal Akash put the traditional sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 23rd minute by an angular shot while another forward Shahiar Emon confirmed the Abahani victory scoring one more goal in the 89th minute by his lone effort. In the day's another match, Rahmatganj MFS crushed lowly Young Men's Club Fakirerpool by 6-1 goals at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Saturday afternoon. Ghana forward Samuel Boteng struck twice in the 25th and 72nd minutes, defender Rajon Howlader also netted twice in the 54th and 90+6 minutes, another defender Taj Uddin and striker Nabib Newaz Jibon scored one each for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj in the 62nd and 66th minutes respectively. Akobir Turaev scored the face-saving goal for Youngmen's Club in the 28th minute from a penalty. After the day's 5th round matches, Rahmatganj MFS and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd have secured 12 points each from five matches. But in goal differences, Rahmatganj MFS were in the 2nd slot while Dhaka Abahani in the 3rd place. Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained the solo lead in the league table with an all-win record securing full 15 points from straight five matches. Brothers Union Club are in 4th place with eight points while defending champions Bashundhara Kings are struggling at 5th with seven points.

Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd maintained solo lead with all-win record in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, beating Fortis Football Club by 1-0 goal at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Friday afternoon. Nigerian forward Emmanuel Sunday scored the match winning goal for the traditional black and whites Mohammedans in the 17th minute by a placing shot, off an Ernest Boateng cross (1-0). Despite the absence of their captain, Mali striker Souleymane Diabate, Mohammedan maintained their winning run in the league after beating Bashundhara Kings and Dhaka Abahani. With the day's 5th consecutive win, Mohammedan SC comfortably dominated the league table securing full 15 points from straight five matches while Fortis SC remained at the 7th slot with five points from five matches. After the fourth-round matches, Rahmatganj MFS and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited were in distant 2nd securing nine points each, Brothers Union Club in the 4th place with seven points, while defending champions Bashundhara Kings struggling at the 5th place with six points. In the day's other match, Dhaka Wanderers Club defeated Chittagong Abahani Limited by a solitary goal at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Friday afternoon. Midfielder Shakil Ali netted the match decider for the old horse Dhaka Wanderers Club in the 42nd minute (1-0). With the day's maiden victory, Dhaka Wanderers Club advanced to the 8th slot in the 10-team fray securing four points from five matches while Chittagong Abahani struggling at the bottom without any point playing five matches.