Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club reached the quarterfinal of the season's curtain raiser meet, the 13-team Independence Cup Football 2023 from Group A crushing old horse Brothers Union Club by 4-0 goals in their first appearance on Monday.
Brazilian midfielder Higor struck twice for the former BPL champions Sheikh Jamal DC in the 11th and 36th minutes to dominate the first half by 2-0 goals at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on Monday afternoon.
Independence Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings manage 1-0 victory over Bangladesh Navy
Colombian forward Bladimir and local striker Sazzad netted two more goals for Sheikh Jamal DC in the 59th and 73rd minutes, respectively.
Sheikh Jamal DC will play the Group A deciding match on Thursday (November 2) against Bangladesh Police FC, which also assured the quarterfinal berth from the group after beating Brothers Union Club by 2-0 goals last Friday.
Independence Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani Ltd make good start beating Air Force 2-0
In the day's another match, last time runners-up Sheikh Russel KC maintained their unbeaten run in Group B, beating Bangladesh Air Force by a 1-0 goal at the Bir Shreshtha Fl Lt Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Monday afternoon.
After a barren first half, local forward Dipok Roy scored the match-winning goal for Sheikh Russel KC in the 61st minute (1-0).
13-team Independence Cup Football begins Friday: 3 matches on Day 1
Sheikh Russel KC, which played a goalless draw with Rahmatganj MFS in their first appearance, will play former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited in their last group match, also on Thursday (November 2).
Earlier, Dhaka Abahani Limited made a good start in the ongoing final round of the Independence Cup Football 2023, also beating the Bangladesh Air Force team by 2-0 goals last Friday.