Dhaka Abahani Ltd emerged as Group B champions with an all-win eliminating last time runners-up Sheikh Russel KC from group stage of the Independence Cup Football 2023, beating them by 2-0 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Saturday.
With the day's feat, former champions Dhaka Abahani not only clinched the Group B title, securing a full nine points from three straight matches to reach the quarterfinal, but also helped Rahmatganj MFS qualify for the quarterfinal as the Group B runners-up.
Independence Cup Football: Rahmatganj MFS stay in quarterfinal race beating Air Force 4-1.
Last time runners-up Sheikh Russel KC, which needed just a draw in the day's match to assure the quarterfinal berth, made an early exit from the season's curtain-raising soccer meet, losing to Dhaka Abahani Ltd.
After a barren first half in the day's match, Brazilian midfielder Jonathan Fernandez put the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 65th minute, while Brazilian forward Washington confirmed the Abahani victory by scoring one more goal in the 75th minute (2-0).
Independence Cup Football: Police FC emerge group champions beating Sheikh Jamal DC 1-0
Group B champions Dhaka Abahani will play Group A runners-up Sheikh Jamal DC in the 2nd quarterfinal on December 3, while Group A champions Police FC will face Group B runners-up Rahmatganj MFS in the first quarterfinal on the same day.
In the day's other match, three-time champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC clinched the Group C title after playing a 1-1 draw with newcomers Fortis FC at the Bir Shreshtha Fl Lt Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Saturday.
Independence Cup Football: Both matches end in draws on Tuesday
After the day's match, three teams in Group C—Mohammedan SC, Bangladesh Army, and Fortis FC—secure two points each from two matches, but in the goal difference, Mohammedan emerged as the group champion and the Army finished as the runners-up.
Ukraine midfielder Valeri Hryshy scored first for Fortis FC in the 30th minute to dominate the first half by a 1-0 goal, while local medio Abedin Rakib levelled the margin for Mohammedan SC in the 74th minute (1-1) to carry the team to the quarterfinal.