United News of Bangladesh

Bashundhara Kings, which clinched BPL title for a record 5th times in a row with three matches spare last Saturday, smartly reached the final of the Federation Cup Football'24 eliminating six-time BPL champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd by 3-0 goal in the 2nd semifinal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Tuesday afternoon. They will play final next Wednesday (May 22) instead of Tuesday (May 21) for local Upazila election, at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh against defending champions Dhaka Mohamnedan SC, who made a final berth for the 2nd successive times eliminating  Bangladesh Police FC by 2-1 goal in the first semifinal last Tuesday. With the day's feat, Bashundhara Kings poised for clinching the treble crown in the season for the first time after winning the Independence Cup and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football  title.  In the day's 2nd semifinal, captain cum Brazilian striker Robson Robinho, another Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomez and substitute forward  Mohammad Ibrahim scored one each for the star studded Bashundhara Kings, which dominated the first half by 1-0 goal. Brazilian striker Robson Robinho put the Kings ahead from a counter attack in the 21st minute by a clever shot from goalmouth melee, off a Rakib pass, utlizing a wrong pass of Abahani captain Rahmat Mia (1-0).  Later, he was adjudged player of the match. BPL leading scorer cum Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomez scored the 2nd goals for the Kings in the 71st minute by a good header from danger zone, capitalizing on a right wing cross from Rakib (2-0). Substitute forward Mohammad  Ibrahim sealed fate of the match scoring the 3rd goal for the Kings in the 6th minute of the added time (90+6 minute),  capitalizing on a free kick taken by Robson Robinho from top of the box (3-0) depriving Dhaka Ahahani from any trophy of this season. Earlier, Abahani escaped goal in the 15th minute when their long serving custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel made two repeated mistake in the danger zone. With the day's outcome, Bashundhara Kings established their absolute supremacy over Dhaka Abahani in this season winning all four matches. Bashundhara Kings beat Dhaka Abahani Ltd twice in the BPL, first by 2-0 goal in the first phase in Gopalganj on January 26, beat Abahani again  by 2-1 goal in the 2nd phase in Bashundhara Kings Arena on May 4 after crushing Dhaka Abahani by 4-0 goal in the Independence Cup semifinal in last December, apart from day's 3-0 victory Earlier, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Sheikh Russel KC 2-1,  BPL champions Bashundhara Kings defeated Rahmatganj MFS 2-0, Police FC outplayed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 3-0 and Dhaka Abahani Ltd beat Fortis FC 3-1 in their respective quarterfinals to reach the semifinals of the ongoing Federation Cup Football.  

Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC took the solo lead in the UCB Women's Football League 2023-24, beating Suddopushkorini JSC by 8-2 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Monday evening. With the day's fourth consecutive victory, the ARB College team dominated the league table, securing 12 points from five matches with four wins and a defeat. However, Nasrin Sports Academy and Bangladesh Army FC maintained an all-win record in the league, securing nine full points from three straight matches, playing two fewer matches than the ARB College team. ARB College SC, which crushed all-losers Jamalpur Kacharipara Akadash by 17-0 goals in the last match, clearly dominated the first half by 5-0 goals today (Monday). In the day's match, Sagorika made the third consecutive hattrick in the league, scoring three goals. Shaheda Akter Ripa, last match double hattrick maker Tohura Kgatun, Sopna Rani, Surma Jannat, and Halim Akter scored one goal each for the winners. Taspia Akter Tisha netted both goals for the losers in just three minutes in the second half. Earlier, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC tasted their first victory in their second match, outplaying Farashganj SC 6-0, beating Dhaka Rangers FC 4-0 in the 3rd match and crushed Jamalpur Kacharipara Akadash 17-0 in the 4th match after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against Bangladesh Army FC in their first match.

Bashundhara Kings, which clinched the BPL title a record five times in a row on Sunday, will play six-time BPL champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd in the second semifinal of the ongoing Federation Cup Football on Tuesday (May 14). The second semifinal match between the country's two soccer giants will kick off at 3:00 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj. The winner of the 2nd semifinal match will play the final on May 21 at 3 pm against the defending champions, Dhaka Mohamnedan SC, who made a final berth for the 2nd successive time, eliminating Bangladesh Police FC by 2-1 goals in the first semifinal last Tuesday. Earlier, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Sheikh Russel KC 2-1, BPL champions Bashundhara Kings defeated Rahmatganj MFS 2-0, Police FC outplayed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 3-0, and Dhaka Abahani Ltd beat Fortis FC 3-1 in their respective quarterfinals to reach the semifinals of the ongoing Federation Cup Football.

Brazil lost the chance to win back-to-back Copa America after becoming 2nd best to Argentina at home in 2021. They will now look to regain their glory. For that, they have announced their 23-man squad ahead of Copa America 2024 which will kick off on the 20th of June. Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Éderson (Manchester City), Bento (Athletico-PR). Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Wendell (FC Porto), Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), and Militão (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), and Lucas Paquetá (West Ham). Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Martinelli (Arsenal), Evanilson (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).  Read more: From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final Analysis of the Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 The new coach of Brazil, Dorival Júnior, has opted to go on the mission of winning Copa America with a fresh squad. As a result, many familiar and experienced faces over the years for Brazil have been left out of the team. The list includes Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves, and Fabinho, the players Dorival did not pick from the squad for World Cup 2022.  He also left out some players because of form and injury issues. Therefore, star players like Neymar, Casemiro, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus make the list of prominent absentees from the squad. The wealth of experience missing in the squad can be a huge miss for Brazil as it is hard to replace. However, it has also allowed Brazil to test and get new winners for their team. Young Prodigy Endrick and Savio have been called up along with Yan Couto, Douglas Luiz, Beraldo, and João Gomes after impressive performances this season. Their attack on paper is one of the best in the world currently. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are on their way to leading Real Madrid to their 15th UCL and League-UCL double. Savinho has been performing brilliantly to take Girona to the UCL this season. He is one of the best dribblers in Europe this season as well. Endrick already has 2 goals in his first 92 minutes for Brazil. Martinelli, Raphinha, and Evanilson can also shine on their day. Their attack looks secure and blazing. It is the strongest unit of their team. Their defense also has a solid starting unit. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães are a tested duo for them and quite reliable as well following their performances at PSG and Arsenal this season. Due to their form this season, Wendell and Yan Couto are possible starting full-back candidates. However, their backup of these players might be a point to worry about. Militão has been out for almost the whole season through injury. Beraldo is a solid CB but quite young as well. Yet their defense looks good to go. Goalkeeping is one of the least concerns for them having two of the best in business Alisson Becker and Éderson fighting for the spot. The midfield has been a problem for quite some years now for Brazil. Even after having some of the best players in the world, it just doesn’t seem to click for them. The coaches also often fail to figure out the best combination of midfield. The concern remains this time too.  Though they have names like Bruno Guimarães, Andreas Pereira, Douglas Luiz, and Lucas Paquetá in their arsenal who can create plenty from the midfield, they don’t have a specialist defensive midfielder to play the destroyer role in the team. This might be a big issue for them in the tournament. Bruno Guimarães has been starting regularly for them since the World Cup and is supposed to lead their midfield this time. He might join with two of Douglas Luiz, Andreas Pereira, and Lucas Paquetá. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see what combination will Dorival Junior choose for the Copa America 2024. Read more: Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball heads to auction Key Players from Brazil Squad of Copa America 2024 Alisson Becker The goalkeepers always have a big role to play in such tournaments. Alisson Becker would have to do the same for Brazil. They should pass the group stage ahead of Columbia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. But the knock-out stage can be tricky with the tie-breaker equation. Alisson has to be the biggest savior of Brazil here.  Bruno Guimarães With the absence of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães has an enormous responsibility to lead and carry the Brazilian midfield. He is capable in every sense of doing the job. However, Brazil will largely depend on him to dominate the middle of the park which has not been working for quite some time now. Therefore, he will be a differentiating player for Brazil this time. Vinícius Júnior Vinícius Júnior is arguably the best winger in the world currently. He is going to be the spearhead of the Brazilian attack. After leading Real Madrid to the La Loga title this season and on the verge of winning the UEFA Champions League with 32 goal contributions, not many people would doubt him being the force to win the Copa America 2024 for Brazil. Rodrygo Rodrygo was the helping hand of Vinícius Júnior for what Real Madrid has achieved this season. He has overall 26 goal contributions and played a massive part in their success. If he can pair up with Vinícius Júnior for Brazil as he does at Real Madrid, great things are waiting for Brazil in this Copa America 2024. Endrick Endrick might be the trump card for Brazil. The new young prodigy of this great footballing nation has. He has taken the world by storm after scoring against England and Spain in back-to-back games this March. He scored 2 goals in 92 minutes of game-time for Brazil. With Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, he can cause havoc on the opponent's defense which is the best output for Brazil. Read more: César Luis Menotti, coach who led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 1978, dies at 85 Performance of Brazil Since the 2022 FIFA World Cup Table: Overview of Brazil’s stats after the last World Cup Brazil Since FIFA World Cup 2022 Played Won Loss Draw Goals Scored Goals Conceded 11 4 5 2 19 17 Brazil have been in a shaky position since the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They have played 11 games of which they have won only 4 while losing 5. They scored 19 goals but conceded 17 too. Additionally, the most productive player of the squad was Neymar in these games who will be unavailable for this game. Although, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are capable of filling that void. Yet they are not providing as much as fans would hope for them to.  Additionally, despite having a solid defensive core, their goal-conceded ratio is alarming which raises a question about Brazil’s defense. Adding to that, their midfield is not very strong this time. At least compared to the rivals, they may fall short in this department which can cause them woes. Compared to the solid performances of the teams like Argentina and Uruguay, they are not the top favorites this time. However, they should easily march on to the semi-finals of how the draw has gone. From there on, it is anybody's game. And you never write off Brazil, or the players they have this time. Verdict Brazil are supposed to go to the semis of Copa America 2024 quite comfortably. Considering the depth in attack, Brazil is one of the best in the world, and the defense created by in-form defenders remains their biggest strength. If these players click well, Brazil are very much on course for their 10th Copa America title. Read more: UEFA Champions League Final 2023/2024: Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid Prediction

Bashundhara Kings clinched Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football title for a record 5th consecutive time with three matches to spare beating Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 2-1 goals at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh on Saturday. With the day's feat, Bashundhara Kings not only earned a rare feat in the league history as the first team to win the BPL title for the 5th time in a row securing 40 points from 15 matches, but took sweet revenge for their lone defeat in the league against Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the first phase  Earlier, star studded Basundhara Kings clinched the BPL title for the 4th consecutive times from 2018-2019 season to 2022-23 season, except 2019-2020 season, when BPL was abandoned due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Kings nearest rival Dhaka Mohammedan SC are in the distant 2nd place with 28 points from 15 encounters and battling for the runners-up position with Dhaka Abahani Ltd, which bagged 26 points from 15 outings. In the day's vital match, Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes put the Kings ahead in the 19th minute by a Miguel pass (1-0) while he again doubled the Kings margin in the 52nd minute by a good header (2-0). BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani drops points with Police FC With the day's feat, Dorielton Games of Brazil emerged as the top scorer in the ongoing league jointly with Dhaka Mohammedan's Malian forward Souleymane Diabate, scoring 13 goals each. Midfielder Minhajul Abedin Ballu scored the lone goal for the traditional black and white Mohammedan SC in the 65th minute (2-1). Incidentally, it was the first defeat for Mohammedan SC in the league. The day's another match between Sheikh Jamal DC and Chittagong Abahani Limted ended in a goalless draw at the Bir Shreshtha Ft. Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Saturday afternoon. In the day's other match, Fortis FC shared points with bottom-placed Brothers Union Club in 1-1 affairs at the Muktijoddha Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi on Saturday afternoon. Ganbian forward Omar Sarr put Fortis FC ahead in the 39th minute (1-0) while Akmol Hossain Noyon leveled the margin for Brothers Union in the 73rd minute  (1-1). Bangladesh suffer clean sweep against India After the day's 15th round matches, Chittagong Abahani Ltd remained at the 5th slot with 18 points, Fortis FC in the 6th place with 17 points, Sheikh Jamal DC  in the 7th place with 16 while Brothers Union Club remained at the bottom with seven points.

The 2024 UEFA Champions League final will take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 1 June 2024. The two finalists are German club Borussia Dortmund and Spanish club Real Madrid.  In this 69th season of Europe's premier club football tournament, Real Madrid will fight for their 15th Champions League trophy. On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund will look to add a 2nd UCL trophy to their cabinet, after their 1st one in 1997.  Road to the Final: How the finalists got there Stats of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Table: Match Results of Real Madrid in the ongoing Champions League So Far Round Opponent Home/Away Result Group Union Berlin Home 1-0 Win Napoli Away 3-2 Win Barga Away 2-1 Win Barga Home 3-0 Win Napoli Home 4-2 Win Union Berlin Away 3-2 Win Round of 16 RB Leipzig Away 1-0 Win RB Leipzig Home 1-1 Quarter-Finals Manchester City Home 1-1 Manchester City Away 3-3 Semi-Finals Bayern Munich Away 2-2 Bayern Munich Home 2-1 Win Real Madrid had an incredible run this season. They are yet to be beaten in this season’s Champions League. They were drawn into a group with Napoli, S.C. Braga, and Union Berlin, where they topped the group winning all the matches, the only team other than defending champions Manchester City to do it this season.  Read more: FIFA World Ranking: Bangladesh drops to 184th In the knockouts, they faced RB Leipzig in the round 16, winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate. Their quarter-final tie was their toughest this time when they clashed with Manchester City. After an exhausting tie of two legs which finished 4-4 on aggregate, they got the edge over City on penalties. They won the semi-finals in the most Real Madrid manner possible.  After getting a 2-2 draw from Allianz Arena, they trailed by 1-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu until the 88th minute. Then Joeslu scored two in a matter of 3 minutes to take them to the finals.  Stats of Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Table: Match Results of Borussia Dortmund in the ongoing Champions League So Far Round Opponent Home/Away Result Group PSG Away 2-0 Loss AC Milan Home 0-0 Newcastle Away 1-0 Win Newcastle Home 2-0 Win AC Milan Away 3-1 Win PSG Home 1-1 Round of 16 PSV Eindhoven Away 1-1 PSV Eindhoven Home 2-0 Win Quarter-Finals Atletico Madrid Away 2-1 Loss Atletico Madrid Home 4-2 Win Semi-Finals PSG Home 1-0 Win PSG Away 1-0 Win Borussia Dortmund was drawn into the group of death this season with PSG, AC Milan, and Newcastle. They started their campaign with a 2-0 loss against PSG and a 0-0 draw against Milan but gradually gained momentum. They won their next three games and ended the group stage with a 1-1 draw against PSG to top the group.  Read more: SAFF U-16 Women's Champs: Bangladesh come from behind to beat India on penalties in final Later they came away with an aggregate 3-1 win against PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16. Their quarter-final battle was against Atletico Madrid. Atletico won the first leg by 2-1. But Dortmund turned things at home with a 4-2 win to proceed to the semi-finals where they were facing PSG. PSG had the upper hand in the group games between these two. But Dortmund fought all the odds and beat PSG by 1-0 in both legs to advance to their 3rd ever UEFA Champions League final. It is their first one since 2012-2013. Stats of Previous Finals  Table: Performances of the 2024 UEFA Champions League Finalists in Previous Finale Matches  Team Previous Final Appearances Wins  Borussia Dortmund 2 (1997, 2013) 1997  Real Madrid 17 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1981, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) 14 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) Note: Final matches until 1992 were in the European Cup era. Since 1993 the finals were in the UEFA Champions League era. Read more: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh concede 0-1 goal defeat against Palestine in last moment debacle H2H Records between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund So Far in UEFA Champions League Table: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Head-to-Head Records Matches Played Real Madrid Win Draw Borussia Dortmund 14 6 5 3 Table: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Goal Records Goals Scored Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund 24 19 Full Squads of Real Madrid Goal Keepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Diego Piñeiro, Fran González, and Lucas Cañizares. Read more: Real Madrid will be out for revenge against Man City in the Champions League. Expect fireworks Defenders:   Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Nacho, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Rafel Obrador, Alvaro Carrillo, Marvel, Vinicius Tobias, Edgar Pujol, and Jacobo Ramón.  Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, FedericoValverde, Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler, Mario Martín, Nicolás Paz, and Théo Zidane.  Forwards:  Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Joselu, Álvaro Rodríguez, and Gonzalo.  Read more: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon in Qatar June 11 Full Squads of Borussia Dortmund Goal Keepers: Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer, and Marcel Lotka. Defenders:   Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, Mats Hummels, Ian Maatsen, Emre Can, Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Lion Semic, and Guillermo Bueno.  Midfielders: Salih Özcan, Felix Nmecha, Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus, Julien Duranville, Marius Wolf, Julian Brandt, Marcel Sabitzer, Abdoulaye Kamara, Kjell-Arik Wätjen, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. Forwards: Sébastien Haller, Niclas Füllkrug, Youssoufa Moukoko, Donyell Malen, Karim Adeyemi, Paris Brunner, and Samuel Bamba. Read more: César Luis Menotti, coach who led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 1978, dies at 85 Key Players for Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior Vinicius is a player who is made for big occasions and is a difference-maker for such games. He scored 5 and assisted 5 in this campaign. But 2 of his 5 goals came against Bayern in the semis and one came against Leipzig in the Round of 16. Similarly, 4 of his 5 assists came against Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the quarter and semi-finals. He has been the guy for Real Madrid to deliver at the big moments and he has to do it once again. Andriy Lunin The Ukrainian shot-stopper has been saving almost everything that has been thrown at him. He is a big factor for Real Madrid coming this far despite having all the injuries in the squad. He has the third most saves in this UCL. He has to step up in the final also. Key Players for Borussia Dortmund Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund has been progressing so far thanks to their defensive grit and resilience. Their Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had played a big part in it. He conceded only 8, the lowest among keepers, playing at least 10 matches this season. He also has the most clean sheets and saves this season. Against a team with such attacking prowess as Real Madrid, Kobel surely has to bring out his best to win it for his team. Read more: Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball heads to auction Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund conceded the 2nd least amount of goals amongst clubs who have reached at least the quarter-finals. Their defense has driven them to the finals this season. Mats Hummels is the leader of this defense.  He is the player with the most balls recovered, most tackles, most tackles won, and most clearances attempted. Therefore, if Dortmund is to win the game, he has to play a big part in it. Prediction and Final Words Real Madrid won 14 matches out of 17 finale matches so far. In the UEFA Champions League era, started in 1993, Real Madrid did not lose any final matches. Therefore, they always had the upper hand against any team in the Champions League because of their pedigree. Nobody has mastered the art of winning this competition like them. Not to mention, they are the favorites in the 2024 UEFA Champions League finale.  However, Borussia Dortmund cannot be written off as well for the performance and determination they have shown during this UCL 2023-24 season.  Therefore, it will be a tough battle and the winner is to be seen on the 1st of June. Read more: From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final

Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited dropped points with Bangladesh Police FC as their Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football match ended in 1-1 draw at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Friday afternoon. With the day's frustrating day, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, which was eliminated from title race with four matches to spare after conceding 1-2 goals defeat against league leader Bashundhara Kings in the last match, now went down in the runners-up race also with 26 points from 15 matches. Basundhara Kings, which clinched the BPL title for the 4th consecutive times from 2018-2019 season to 2022-23 season (BPL abandoned in 2019-1020 season due to Covid-19 Pandemic), now poised for the 5th crown securing 37 points from 14 matches, nine points ahead of nearest rivals Mohammedan SC, which bagged 28 points from 14 encounters. St. Vincent forward Cornelius Stewart put the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 9th minute of the match (1-0). Local forward MS Bablu leveled the margin for Police FC in the 88th minute with the frustration of Abahani fans (1-1). The day's other match between Sheikh Russel KC and Rahmatganj MFS ended in 1-1 draw at the Bir Shreshtha Ft. Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Friday afternoon. Ghana forward Earnest Boateng scored first for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS in the 56th minute (1-0) while Servian booter Vojislav Balabanovic restored the parity for Sheikh Russel KC in the 62nd minute (1-1).

Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC, riding on a double hattrick by Tohura Khatun, earned the 3rd consecutive victory in the UCB Women's Football League 2023-24 crushing all-losers Jamalpur Kacharipara Akadash by 17-0 goals on Thursday. In the day's match at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, veteran national striker Tohura Khatun made a double hattrick scoring seven goals while forward Sagorika made the 2nd consecutive hattrick in the ongoing league scoring four goals. Besides, Souravi Akanda Prity struck two while Sopna Rani, Kohati Kisku, Surma Jannat and Munki Akter netted one goal each for the Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College, which dominated the first half by 8-0 goals. Earlier, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC tasted the first victory in their 2nd match outplaying Farashganj SC 6-0 and beat Dhaka Rangers FC 4-0 goals in the 3rd match after conceding a 0-1 goal defeat against Bangladesh Army FC in the first match.

From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final Two years ago, Joselu Mato was just another Real Madrid fan cheering in the stands of the Stade de France as it won a record-extending 14th European Cup. On Wednesday, the journeyman striker scored two late goals to achieve another memorable Madrid comeback in a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich and send them back to the Champions League final. "I try and make the most of my chances," the 34-year-old Joselu said. "As for two years ago, this is how it feels to be a Real Madrid fan. I had the opportunity to go and support Madrid and now I get to experience it first hand." Much like Madrid's run to the 2022 final when Karim Benzema and Rodrygo stunned rivals with late goals in comeback victories over Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City, it was the turn of the modest Joselu to etch his name into the club's long Champions League lore against mighty Bayern. "It's a dream come true to have nights like this," he said. "My dreams aren't as beautiful as what happened. As a forward, you dream of scoring goals, and if they're like this then even better." Joselu's arrival last summer was not a typical Real Madrid move. The powerhouse normally likes to make huge blockbuster moves such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Jude Bellingham, etc., or develop young talents like Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior and Eduardo Camavinga. Joselu, in turn, was an aging striker who quietly made a fine career providing goals for small teams whose main objective is just avoiding relegation. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Joselu returned to Spain with his family as a young child. After starting his career at Celta Vigo, he was signed by Madrid for its reserve team before he strung together stints with German clubs Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim, Hannover and English clubs Stoke and Newcastle. He reached his prime on returning to the Spanish league in 2019, scoring in double digits in his three seasons at Alaves and his single campaign with Espanyol. That earned him his international debut with Spain at age 32. Even so, his goals could not save Alaves or Espanyol from being relegated in consecutive seasons. And that was when opportunity knocked. After Espanyol went down last year, Madrid secured him on a one-season loan from the Barcelona-based club now playing in the second division. Madrid must have seen that Joselu's proven ability to poach goals, win high balls, score with one touch and with headers, could fill a hole in its squad of speedsters, skilled dribblers, and passers. Madrid had just lost Benzema, its top scorer, who left for Saudi Arabia, but Joselu was clearly not a replacement for the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner. Even if Madrid was going to wait another year in its pursuit of Kylian Mbappé, then Joselu was still at best a bench player, a substitute for Carlo Ancelotti to toss into the box in the final minutes hoping to connect with a last-gasp cross or corner. And that was exactly what Joselu did on Wednesday when Bayern was up a goal and Madrid was once again needing to conjure up a bit of that Bernabeu magic. Joselu's moment came when goalkeeper Manuel Neuer marred his outstanding night by spilling an apparently routine save of a shot by Vinícius. Joselu knew he had to be close just in case and, sure enough, the ball fell to his feet for an easy tap in for the 88th-minute equalizer. "A striker always has to be active in the area, ready for a loose ball," Joselu said. "When I saw the bounce the ball took I knew that anything could happen, and I was prepared to take advantage of that opportunity." Madrid wasn't done, and it was Joselu who arrived to knock in a cross from central defender Antonio Rüdiger for the stoppage-time winner. Joselu has far surpassed expectations at Madrid with his highly productive 17 goals across all competitions in limited minutes. He will have a chance to play in a Champions League final, especially if Madrid finds itself trailing on the scoreboard, against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London. "He's a reflection of the team because he has contributed so much this season," Ancelotti said about Joselu. "He hasn't had a lot of game time but he's the perfect reflection of what this team is all about. He has given us so much, without ever losing confidence in what he's capable of."  

A legendary piece of football history is heading to the auction block: Diego Maradona's Adidas Golden Ball trophy, awarded to him as the best player of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, will be auctioned by Aguttes International Auction House in Paris on June 6th this year. This unique trophy symbolizes the pinnacle of Maradona's illustrious career, a tournament where he led Argentina to World Cup glory and scored two of the most iconic goals in football history: the infamous 'Hand of God' and the breathtaking 'Goal of the Century' against England. The Adidas Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament's best player since the 1982 World Cup, represents one of football's most prestigious individual accolades. This particular trophy, featuring the design of the official Adidas 'Azteca' ball used in the 1986 World Cup, marks the first time a Golden Ball has ever been offered at auction. This auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and football enthusiasts to own a piece of sporting history that embodies the brilliance and legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time. With Maradona's 1986 World Cup jersey recently fetching a staggering $7 million at auction, the Golden Ball trophy is expected to attract significant interest and potentially reach a record-breaking price.