ULAB beat last time runners-up Fareast University by 5-4 goals in the tie-breaker as the official opening match of the tournament was locked in a goalless position in the stipulated period at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here soon after the opening ceremony in the afternoon. 

Saikat of ULAB was adjudged the best player of the match. 

In the day’s first match in the morning, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) made a flying start crushing State University by a massive 11-0 goal at Kamalapur Stadium here. 

Inteshar and Pias made hat trics scoring four and three goals respectively while Tipu, Sayed, Imran and Imon scored one each for the winners. Later, Pias named as the best player of the match.

Twenty private university teams, split into eight groups, are taking part in the first phase of the meet, organized by former footballers organisation “Sonali Otit Club” named after 20-year old student Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, a victim of terrorist attack in Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan.  

Earlier, State Minister for Youth and Sports Dr Biren Sikder inaugurated the tournament Wednesday afternoon at BNS. 

Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry M Asadul Islam, Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, the elder brother of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, Deputy Managing Director of the meet’s sponsor Shahjalal Islami Bank Abdul Aziz, Tournament Committee Chairman Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu and Tournament Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Aslam were also present on the occasion. 

BRAC University will face IUBAT at 3 pm while Gono Bishwabidyalay will play City University at 5 pm on Thursday, both at Kamalapur Stadium.

On completion of first phase matches on July 29, the Round-16 matches will be held on July 30-31, quarterfinals on Aug 2, semifinal on July 3 and the final match on August 5.

The champions team will be awarded with a prize money of Taka 2 lac and runners-up team will get Tk one lac in addition to trophies. Besides, highest scorer, best player and best goal-keeper of the tournament will also be awarded.