Former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited made a good start in the 13-team final round of the Independence Cup Football 2023, the season's curtain raiser soccer meet, beating Bangladesh Air Force team by 2-0 goals in one of the three opening day matches on Friday.
Both the goals in day's Group B match were scored in the first half at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Friday afternoon.
Striker Nabib Newas Jibon put the traditional sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 11th minute from a penalty (1-0) while national booter Rabiul Hasan confirmed the Abahani victory scoring one more goal in the 36th minute (2-0).
Earlier, President of Gopalganj District Awami League Mahbub Ali Khan inaugurated the tournament at a simple ceremony.
In the day's another Group B match, a 10-man Rahmatganj MFS forced last time runners-up Sheikh Russel KC to play goalless draw at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here on Friday.
Rahmatganj MFS were reduced to 10-man in the 47th minute as their defender Shakil got marching order after receiving the 2nd yellow card in the match
BFF Vice -President M Imrul Hasan will inaugurated the the match as the chief guest Friday afternoon.
In the day's Group A match at the Bir Shreshtha FL.Lt Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Bangladesh Police FC defeated Brothers Union Club by 2-0 goals.
Kyrgyzstan's medio Karipov scored the first for Police FC in the 23rd minute to dominate the first half by 1-0 goal while Columbian forward Garcia doubled the margin in the 67th minute (2-0)
Two matches will be held on Saturday (Oct 28)
Three times champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC will meet Bangladesh Army at 2:30 pm while defending champions Bashundhara Kings will encounters Bangladesh Navy at 6 pm, both at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Saturday
Thirteen teams, ten teams of the Premier Division League and three teams from qualifying round, split into four groups, are competing in the meet at three different venues across the country.
Grouping of the meet:
Group A-Bangladesh Police, Sheikh Jamal DC and Brothers Union Club
Group B- Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Sheikh Russel KC, Rahmatganj MFS and Bangladesh Air Force.
Group C - Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Fortis FC and Bangladesh Army.
Group D- Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani Ltd and Bangladesh Navy
On completion of league basis group matches, top two teams from each of the four groups will play in the quarterfinals on December 3 and 4 after a month-long break for the AFC Cup and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The two semifinals will be held on December 7
The champions team will receive a prize money of Tk five lakhs while the runners-up team will get Tk three lakhs..