Both the matches of the 13-team Independence Cup Football' 2023 ended in a draw at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on Tuesday.

In the day's 2nd match, Bangladesh Navy played to a 1-1 draw with Chittagong Abahani Limited in a Group D match at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena Tuesday evening.

Also read: Independence Cup Football : Abahani advance to the quarterfinal, beating Rahmatganj

After the day's match, defending champions Bashundhara Kings assured the quarterfinal berth from Group D with one match spare, securing full three points from one match, beating Navy team by 1-0 goal in the first match. 

Both the Bangladesh Navy and Chittagong Abahani still in the quarterfinal race from Group D collecting one point each playing two and one match respectively.

However,  they have to wait for the outcome of the Ctg  Abahani and Bashundhara Kings last group match on December 1 to decide their quarterfinal fate. But the match will be held after a long break of about one month for AFC Cup and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 

Also read: Independence Cup Football : Sheikh Jamal reach quarter-final crushing Brothers Union

Defender Selim Reza put the sailors team ahead in the 12th minute (1-0) while medio Hemonta Vincent Biswas leveled the margin for the port city team in the 74th minute (1-1).

Earlier, in the day's first match, Bangladesh Army played to a goalless draw with Fortis Football  Club in a Group C match also at the Bashundhara Sports Arena Tuesday afternoon.

After the day's match, Bangladesh Army topped the Group C list  securing two points from two matches.

Two other teams of the Group --three times champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Fortis FC -- followed the leaders with one point each after  playing one match, and will meet each other on Saturday to decide the Group C champions as well as to determine the two quarterfinalists.

Earlier, three teams---former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Bangladesh Police FC-- reached the quarterfinal of the season's curtain raiser soccer meet from their respective groups.

Also read: Independence Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings manage 1-0 victory over Bangladesh Navy