Dhaka, Dec 3 (UNB) – Chattogram Abahani Limited got off to a flying start in the 13-team Independence Cup Football Tournament beating newcomers NoFel Sporting Club by 3-0 goals in Group B opener at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Monday afternoon.

In the day’s 2nd match, Dhaka Mohammedan SC played to a goalless draw with Rahmatganj MFS in the evening at the same venue under floodlight.

In the day’s first match, Gambian booter Mamadou Bah struck two in the 19th and 62nd minute while Nigerian Mufta Lawal netted the other goal in the 54th minute for the popular sky-blue team from the port city of Chattogram.

Mamadou Bah opened the floodgate for Abahani in the 19th minute by a bicycle kick from top of the box (1-0) while Mufta Lawal doubled the Abahani margin in the 54th minute by a header off Koushik Barua corner (2-0).

Manadou Bah sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd and the third goal for Abahani in the 62nd minute (3-0).

Chattogram Abahani will meet Rahmatganj MFS in their next match on Thursday (Dec 6) at 3pm while NoFel SC will face Dhaka Mohammedan SC on the same day at 5:15 pm.

Thirteen teams, split into four groups, are initially taking part in the meet with three semifinalists of the just concluded Federation Cup -- Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal DC and Sheikh Russel KC-- putting together in Group D.

Groupings are:
Group A – Saif Sporting Club, Arambagh KS and Team BJMC
GroupB – ChattogramAbahani, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Rahmatganj MFS and Nofel SC
Group C – Dhaka Abahani, Brothers Union and MuktijoddhaSangasd KC
Group D Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC and Bashundhara Kings.

On completion of Group matches on December 9, two top teams from each of the groups will play inthe quarterfinals on December 11-14, all at 4:30 pm.

The semifinals are scheduled for December 19-20 while the final will be held on December 24, also at 4:30 pm.

The remaining fixture of group matches:

Dec 4 - Team BJMC vs Arambagh KS (5pm)
Dec 5 – Muktijoddha Sangsad vs Brothers Union (3pm)
Bashundahra Kings vs Sheikh Russel KC (5:15pm)
Dec 6 - Rahmatganj MFS vs Chattogram Abahani (3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vs NoFel SC (5:15pm)
Dec 7 - Arambagh KS vs Saif SC (5pm)
Dec 8 - Sheikh Russel KC vs Sheikh Jamal DC (3pm)
Brothers Union vs Dhaka Abahani (5:15 pm)
Dec 9 - Rahmatganj MFS vs NoFel SC (3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vs Chattogram Abahani (5:15 pm)

Dhaka, Dec 3 (UNB)-UNICEF signed a two-year-long partnership agreement with Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday to bolster girls’ empowerment through football.

The agreement is part of UNICEF’s long-term commitment to make sports available for all, especially for the women and girls.

Bangladesh Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin and UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations at the BFF office.

Under the agreement, the UNICEF logo will be placed in the jersey of the National Under-16 Girl’s Football Team in all the national and international matches and also at the practice sessions.

In addition, UNICEF will be working closely with BFF to encourage more girls to participate in football by organizing national talent-hunt program and arranging football tournaments, covering all the 64 districts of Bangladesh on yearly basis.

Under the terms of the partnership, the BFF has appointed UNICEF as the exclusive Development Partner of Bangladesh National Girls’ Football Team.

“This initiative will offer a unique opportunity to enhance UNICEF’s partnerships in the world of sport by bringing into limelight the hidden talent scattered across the country with a strong potential to change lives,” said Beigbeder.

He further added that Bangladesh’s female national under16-players were now “models of girl empowerment and emancipation” and had set an example for other girls in the country to follow.

He said that sport promotes equity and inclusion and plays a vital role in breaking entrenched attitudes and practices that discriminate against girls including child marriage, child trafficking and violence against children.

Milan, Dec 3 (AP/UNB) — This could be the season that AC Milan finally makes it back into the Champions League.

Seven-time champion Milan hasn't played in the competition since the 2013-14 season.

However, Gennaro Gattuso's team came from behind to beat Parma 2-1 and moved into fourth spot in Serie A — the last qualifying berth for the Champions League.

"We'll enjoy the three points, get our energy back and then we'll see game by game where we can get to," Gattuso said. "I advise the players not to look at the table and to enjoy their two days of rest now."

Milan is one point above Lazio, which was held to a 1-1 draw at last-place Chievo Verona. It is also four points below city rival Inter Milan, which drew 2-2 at Roma.

Only two points separated Milan and Parma going into the match at San Siro, but Parma had already beaten Inter at the famous stadium — and was looking to add another chapter to its fairytale-like rise in its first season back in Serie A since going bankrupt three years ago and being forced to restart in Serie D.

Milan dominated but Parma took the lead against the run of play when Roberto Inglese headed in a corner at the near post in the 49th minute.

Parma's lead lasted less than six minutes before Suso's ball was deflected through to Patrick Cutrone and he fired in off the base of the far post.

And Milan's comeback was complete in the 71st when Franck Kessie converted a penalty after Alessandro Bastoni handled Hakan Calhanoglu's cross.

UNDESIRED DRAW

The draw between Inter and Roma did little for either side.

Inter moved level with second-place Napoli ahead of Napoli's visit to Atalanta on Monday. Roma remained in seventh place and at risk of missing out on Europe.

Moments after Roma had protested for a perceived penalty, Keita Balde put Inter ahead late in the first half by redirecting a cross from Danilo D'Ambrosio.

Cengiz Under leveled for Roma with a powerful long-range effort after the break, and Mauro Icardi restored Inter's advantage by heading in a corner.

Aleksandar Kolarov equalized again with a penalty in the 73rd.

STOPPAGE-TIME TURNAROUND

Genoa almost managed to beat Torino despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour but the home side prevailed 2-1.

Genoa's Romulo was sent off in the 28th minute following two yellow cards in three minutes. The second was for a brutal challenge, which saw the studs of his boot connect with the chest of Torino midfielder Soualiho Meite.

Surprisingly Genoa took the lead less than 10 minutes later. Daniel Bessa headed on a corner and Christian Kouame caught the Torino defense napping to tap in from close range.

Torino turned the match around in first-half stoppage time. Genoa failed to clear the ball and Cristian Ansaldi smashed it into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.

It took the lead seconds later when Andrea Belotti converted a penalty after Iago Falque had been tripped by Sandro.

Torino moved up to sixth while Genoa remained four points above the relegation zone.

OTHER MATCHES

In Verona, Lazio needed a second-half equalizer from Ciro Immobile to cancel out an early goal from Chievo's 39-year-old captain Sergio Pellissier.

Cagliari is just a point above Genoa after recovering to draw 1-1 at Frosinone. Diego Farias canceled out Francesco Cassata's opener. Cagliari and Italy defender Nicolo Barella was sent off late on following a second booking.

Newly promoted Frosinone remained second from bottom in Serie A, five points from safety.

Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Udinese managed to get a point with a 0-0 draw at Sassuolo.

Paris, Dec 3 (AP/UNB) — Bordeaux held Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-2 draw on Sunday to finally end the runaway leader's streak of 14 straight wins to start the season in the French league.

PSG now leads second-placed Montpellier by 14 points.

PSG twice took the lead, through star forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. But substitute Andreas Cornelius leveled for the hosts with a fine glancing header from a cross in the 84th minute.

Neymar gave PSG the lead in the 34th with a neat volley from inside the penalty area, but went off around 10 minutes into the second half and headed straight to the dressing room. It was not immediately clear if he had picked up an injury. Neymar exited with an apparent groin injury during Brazil's friendly match against Cameroon on Nov. 20.

"I think it is (the same injury)," PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said. "We have to be very attentive. The pitch was very hard to play on."

Tuchel said Neymar is expected to miss Wednesday night's match away to Strasbourg.

"I hope he is ready to play against Montpellier (on Saturday)," Tuchel added.

Neymar's 11th league goal of the season went to a video review before being awarded. It seemed harsh on Bordeaux, considering Mbappe appeared marginally offside and to be slightly obscuring the view of goalkeeper Benoit Costil when the ball went in.

After veteran forward Jimmy Briand equalized with a well-worked goal in the 54th minute, Mbappe sprinted through to collect Julian Draxler's pass and slot home the second in the 66th.

"We wanted to beat them. We can be proud of the fact we're the first team to take points from them," Briand said. "We tried to be aggressive, because we know they don't like it."

PSG could have scored more with winger Angel Di Maria hitting the post and the crossbar. But slack defending allowed Cornelius enough space to salvage a point for 11th-place Bordeaux.

"It was a very tight game. They were very strong tactically," PSG defender Marquinhos said. "They deserved it, they played the right way."

MARSEILLE SLIPS

Following a crushing defeat in the Europa League, Marseille slipped up again when it drew 0-0 at home to Reims.

Marseille lost 4-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday to go bottom of its Europa League group, having reached the final of the competition last season.

Confidence seemed to be affected as Marseille labored against Reims and top scorer Florian Thauvin was kept quiet. Playmaker Dimitri Payet had a free kick well saved as Marseille dropped points in its quest to qualify for next season's Champions League.

The draw leaves Marseille in fifth place, one point behind fourth-place Lille, while Reims is ninth.

OTHER MATCHES

Strasbourg moved up to eighth with an emphatic 4-1 win at Rennes after conceding early.

Rennes led 1-0 thanks to forward Ismaila Sarr's early goal, but Alsace side Strasbourg hit back with two penalties from midfielder Jonas Martin and a goal each from Adrien Thomasson and Pablo Martinez.

Toulouse had its goalkeeper sent off early on and went 2-0 down before rallying to draw 2-2 at home to fellow struggler Dijon.

Baptiste Reynet was sent off in the fifth minute and substitute goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea was immediately called into action, saving a free kick.

Dijon took the lead through Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd. The goal was initially disallowed for offside but given after a video review.

The visitors went 2-0 up in the 68th minute through midfielder Mehdi Abeid.

Forward Max-Alain Gradel gave Toulouse hope with a spectacular overhead kick shortly after, and Belgian striker Aaron Leya Iseka equalized in the 77th.

Toulouse is in 15th place, and Dijon is 17th.

Dhaka, Dec 2 (UNB) – Federation Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Limited got off to a good start in the 13-team Independence Cup Football Tournament beating Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 2-1 goals in the Group C opener at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Sunday.

In the day’s 2nd match, Federation Cup runners-up and big-budgeted Bashundhara Kings beat Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 2-0 goals in death Group D affairs at the same venue with Nasiruddin and Baktyir scoring one each in the 18th and 28th minute of the match respectively 

After a barren first half in the day’s first match, substitute forward Faisal Ahmed Shetal scored both the goals for sky-blue popular Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Limited in a span of only one minute (76th and 78th minute) while Japanese Yousuke Kato netted the lone goal for the freedom fighters team Muktijoddha SKC in the stoppage time (92nd minute) from a penalty (2-1).

Faisal, who entered the field replacing Jewel Rana, opened the Abahani account in the 76th minute, pushing the ball home off a cutback of Rubel Mia (1-0).

He again doubled the Abahani margin in the 78th minute by a good header, utilising a cross of Haitian booter Kervens Belfort (2-0). 

Japanese footballer Yousuke reduced the margin for Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the 2nd minute of the stoppage time (92nd minute) from a penalty (2-1). 

The freedom fighters’ team got the spot kick when one of the Abahani defenders fouled rushing Yousuke in the danger zone and Yousuke did no mistake to convert the spot kick.

Thirteen teams, split into four groups, are initially taking part in the meet with three semifinalists of the just concluded Federation Cup -- Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal DC and Sheikh Russel KC -- putting together in Group D.

Groupings are:
Group A – Saif Sporting Club, Arambagh KS and Team BJMC
GroupB – Chattogram Abahani, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Rahmatganj MFS and Nofel SC
Group C – Dhaka Abahani, Brothers Union and Muktijoddha Sangasd KC
Group D Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC and Bashundhara Kings.

On completion of Group matches on December 9, two top teams from each of the groups will play in the quarterfinals on December 11-14, all at 4:30 pm.

The semifinals are scheduled for December 19-20 while the final will be held on December 24, also at 4:30 pm.

The remaining fixture of group matches:
Dec 3 – Chattogram Abahani vs Nofel Sporting (3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vs Rahmatganj MFS (5:15pm)
Dec 4 - Team BJMC vs Arambagh KS (5pm)
Dec 5 – Muktijoddha Sangsad vs Brothers Union (3pm)
Bashundahra Kings vs Sheikh Russel KC (5:15pm)
Dec 6 - Rahmatganj MFS vs Chattogram Abahani (3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vs Nofel SC (5:15pm)
Dec 7 - Arambagh KS vs Saif SC (5pm)
Dec 8 - Sheikh Russel KC vs Sheikh Jamal DC (3pm)
Brothers Union vs Dhaka Abahani (5:15 pm)
Dec 9 - Rahmatganj MFS vs Nofel SC (3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vs ChattogramAbahani (5:15 pm)