football
9-team UCB Women's Football League begins Saturday
The nine-team UCB Women's Football League 2023-24, Powered by Upay, begins on Saturday (Apr 27) at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur here.
Bangladesh Army SC Ltd will play Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC in the opening match, will kick - off at 3:45 pm in Kamalapur.
Two matches will be held on the following day (Sunday) at the same venue.
Farashganj SC will play Uttara Football Club Ltd at 9:30 am while Dhaka Rangers FC will encounter Siraj Smrity Sangshad at 3:45 pm on the day.
AFC council member and Chairperson of the BFF Committee for Women's Football Mahfuza Akter Kiron disclosed the details of the league at a press conference at the BFF House in Motijheel Friday afternoon.
Head of Brand Marketing and Corporate Affairs Division of the league sponsor UCB Bank Ltd Abul Kalam Azad, BFF general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar and the captains & coaches of participating teams were also present on the occasion.
All the nine participating teams will be given Tk 50,000 (fifty thousand) each as participation money.
Besides, the champions will be awarded with Tk 5,00,000 (five lakh) while the runners up team with Tk 3,00,000 (three lakh).
BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani manage 1-0 win over Sheikh Russel KC
Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited managed a hard-fought 1-0 goal victory over hosts Sheikh Russel KC in the Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here Friday afternoon.
Despite the day' s victory, Dhaka Abahani Limited remained at the 3rd slot in the 10-team league securing 25 points while Sheikh Russel KC remained at the 8th place with 11 points, playing 13 matches each.
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table securing 31 points while Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC followed the leader distantly with 26 points playing 12 matches each, one match less than Dhaka Abahani Ltd.
After barren first half in the day's match, Brazilian forward Bruno Goncalves Rocha scored the match winning goal for the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 74th minute of the match (1-0).
Later, he was adjudged the best player of the match.
In the day's other league match, Fortis Football Club advanced to the 5th slot in the league table beating old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS by 2-1 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Friday.
Local defender Rashedul Islam Rashed put Fortis FC ahead in the 26th minute (1-0) while Gambian striker Pa Omar doubled the Fortis FC margin in the 37th minute (2-0).
Ghana forward Samuel Mensah Konney scored the lone goal for Rahmatganj MFS in the 50th minute from a penalty (2-1)
After the match, Fortis FC moved up to the 5th place securing 16 points while Rahmatganj MFS remained at the 9th slot with 10 points, playing 13 matches each.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon in Qatar June 11
Bangladesh will play Lebanon in their last Group I away match of their Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at a neutral venue—Al Saad Club Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
The match between the two teams will kick-off at 7: 00 pm local time and 10: 00 pm Bangladesh time.
Two war-torn Arabian nations—Palestine and Lebanon—had to play their home matches in neutral venues due to security reasons.
Before the last group match, Bangladesh will play Australia in their home match on June 6 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
On completion of four group matches each, Australia dominated the group table to qualify for the next round with an all-win record, securing a full 12 points, War-torn Palestine is in the distant second, collecting seven points with two wins, one draw, and one defeat.
Lebanon are in the third slot, securing two points with two draws and two defeats, while Bangladesh remained at the bottom with one point from four matches after making a 1-1 draw with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka.
Earlier, Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goal defeat against World Cup playing Australia in their away match, drew 1-1 with Arabian nation Lebanon in the home match, suffered a 0-5 defeat against Palestine in their away match in Kuwait, and conceded a shocking 0-1 goal defeat in the dying moment against Palestine in their home match in Dhaka.
Fed Cup Football: Bangladesh Police smartly reach semifinal eliminating Sheikh Jamal DC
Bangladesh Police FC smartly reached the semifinal of the Federation Cup Football Tournament 2023-24 eliminating former BPL champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 3-0 goals in the 3rd quarterfinal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday.
Earlier, defending champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC and league champions Bashundhara Kings also qualified for the semifinals eliminating Sheikh Russel KC (2-1) and Rahmatganj MFS (2-0) respectively in the quarterfinals
Six times BPL champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC in the 4th and last quarterfinal on April 30 also at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
In the day's 3rd quarterfinal, all the three goals of the match were scored in the first 23rd minute of the match.
Uzbek midfielder Javokhir Sokhibov put the Police team ahead in the very 2nd minute of the match by a good header, capitalizing a Mithu free kick (1-0).
Police FC doubled the margin by a gifted goal while Sheikh Jamal defender S. Kholmatov sent the ball to his own net in the 9th minute while he trying to foil an attempt of Shah Quazem (2-0).
Uzbek defender Azamat Abdullaev sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd and last goal in the 23rd minute, off a Shaheed Miah's cross (3-0).
BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings further consolidate top slot beating Fortis FC
Holders Bashundhara Kings further consolidated their position to clinch the Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24 title beating Fortis FC Ltd by 1-0 at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Saturday.
After the day's win, star-studded Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominates the league table securing 31 points from 12 matches while Fortis FC went down to the 6th slot with 13 points also playing 12 matches.
Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira scored the match winning goal for the Kings in the 23rd minute of the match (1-0).
Nasum's hunger for wickets spurs Mohammedan's Super League Campaign
At the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh, Federation Cup Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC crushed old horse Brothers Union Club by 8-0 goals Saturday afternoon.
Malian striker Souleymane Diabate made a hattrick scoring five goals in the 43rd, 45+2, 68th, 72nd and 89th minutes while Emon, Jewel Mia and Tony scored one goal each in the 34th, 76th and 87th minutes respectively for the traditional black and whiles Mohammedan, which dominated the first half by 3-0 goals.
Despite the day's huge victory, Mohammedan SC remained at the 2nd slot in the league table collecting 26 points from 12 matches while the Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union remained at the bottom with three points from 12 encounters
In the day's other league match, Chittagong Abahani Ltd defeated Rahmatganj MFS by 2-1 goals at the Fl. Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Saturday.
Premier Hockey: Usha KC finish with winning note beating Police SC
Nigerian forward Pual Komolafe put Abahani ahead in the 15th minute (1-0) while Abahani doubled margin by a gifted goal when Rahmatganj defender sent the ball to his own net in the 49th minute (2-0).
Ghanian booter Ernest Boateng netted the lone goal for Rahmatganj MFS from a penalty in the 57th minute (2-1).
BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani manage 2-1 victory over Sheikh Jamal DC
In a battle of two former champions, six times champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd managed 2-1 goals victory over three times champions Sheikh Jamal DC in the Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24 at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Friday.
Federation Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings reach semifinals beating Rahmatganj MFS
Midfielder Mohammad Abdullah put Sheikh Jamal DC ahead in the 8th minute (1-0) while Brazilian booter Jonathon Fernandes restored the parity for Abahani in the 28th minute (1-1).
St. Vincent booter Stewart Cornelius scored the match winning goal for the traditional sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the stoppage time (45+1) of the first half (2-1).
BPL Football : Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintain unbeaten run defeating Sheikh Russel KC 3-1
After the day's match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd remained at the 3rd slot securing 22 points while Sheikh Jamal DC is in the 5th slot with 15 points, playing 12 matches each.
In the day's other match, Bangladesh Police FC beat another former champions Sheikh Russell KC by a solitary goal scored by Quazem in the 23rd minute (1-0) at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh on Friday.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings thrash Ctg. Abahani 5-0
Zillur Rahman of Police FC got marching order after receiving two yellow cards.
With the day's victory, Police FC advanced to the 4th slot in the league table securing 17 points while Sheikh Russell KC is in the 7th slot with 11 points, playing 12 matches each
Federation Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings reach semifinals beating Rahmatganj MFS
League champions Bashundhara Kings smartly reached the semifinal of the Federation Cup Football as the 2nd team eliminating Rahmatganj MFS by 2-0 goals in the 2nd quarterfinal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday.
Defending champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC advanced to the semifinal of the Federation Cup Football Tournament as the first team eliminating Sheikh Russel KC by 2-1 goals in the first quarter final at the same venue on April 2.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to play Police FC in the 3rd quarterfinal on April 23 while Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC in the 4th and last quarterfinal on April 30, both at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj
In the day's well contested 2nd quarterfinal, Sohel Rana put the Kings ahead in the 24th minute of the match by a powerful shot, capitalizing on a Robson Robinho clever pass (1-0).
Nigerian booter Mfon Sunday Udoh scored the 2nd goal for the Kings in the 62nd minute sending the ball over the advanced opponent custodian, also off a Robson Robinho pass (2-0).
Later, the Kings day's play maker Robson Robinho was adjudged the best player of the match.
Real Madrid will be out for revenge against Man City in the Champions League. Expect fireworks
The all-time kings of Europe take on the current holders in the standout tie of the Champions League quarterfinals.
For the third year running Madrid and City meet in a match-up in which the winner has gone on to lift the trophy in the past two seasons. And it would be difficult to look beyond either team going on to continue that streak this time around.
City is still in contention for back-to-back trebles after winning the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup last year.
Madrid, reinvigorated by the signing of Jude Bellingham last summer, is eight points clear at the top of the Spanish league and aiming for a record-extending 15th European Cup title.
The Spanish giant also has a point to prove after being routed 4-0 by City in the second leg of last year's semifinals.
Then it was City who had a score to settle, having suffered a late collapse at the Bernabeu to crash out in the semifinals in 2022.
Manager Pep Guardiola will likely know how motivated Madrid will be to exact revenge — just as his players were last year — and that adds a subplot to a tie that is already heavy on intrigue.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain versus Barcelona is another clash of heavyweights, with Kylian Mbappe aiming to finally lead the French champions to European club soccer's elite trophy before walking away at the end of the season.
Premier League title-chasing Arsenal takes on a Bayern Munich team that is limping towards the end of a miserable campaign in the German league, while Atletico Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund.
REAL DEAL?
Madrid has all its attacking players clicking.
Bellingham has struck 20 goals in 32 games this season, including four in the Champions League. Vinícius Júnior is peaking just in time to face City with five goals in his last three appearances. Brahim Díaz provides a spark off the bench. And Rodyrgo ended a six-week scoring drought in Madrid’s last game, a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, to keep it on course for winning the domestic league title.
Madrid is on a 27-game unbeaten run at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium across all competitions dating back to last April.
City has found its scoring form over the past week after hitting four goals in each of its games against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to stay on the heels of title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.
ENRIQUE REUNION
After a difficult start to his coaching career at PSG, when he had to put up with Mbappe’s bitter contract saga, Luis Enrique has steadily won over fans and the French media - even if it meant dropping Mbappe or taking him off in games.
Enrique won the treble as Barcelona coach in 2015 with Lionel Messi in his team and is still in contention to do the same at PSG with Mbappe.
Losing has become a distant memory for PSG, which is undefeated in 27 matches since a loss away to AC Milan in November during the Champions League group stage. But playing a rested Barcelona side could be the toughest test of the season.
Xavi Hernández attempted to shock his team into getting its act together by saying he would quit at the end of the season, something that has coincided with a certain improvement.
Barcelona has gone unbeaten in 11 straight games since Xavi said in late January that he was renouncing the final year of his contract.
Robert Lewandowski, teenager Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are all playing well of late, but the midfield is a big question mark due to injury concerns.
TUCHEL TROUBLE
Bayern Coach Thomas Tuchel wants to end a “frustrating” season, and his tenure, on a high with a trip to Wembley for the Champions League final. But its preparation for Arsenal could hardly have been worse after its latest defeat, this time to Heidenheim on Saturday after leading 2-0.
“There’s still the goal of going to Wembley,” Tuchel said Friday. “Everything is being put toward this target. It can’t happen that we ease off even 1% in our conviction or in our ambition.”
The mood at Arsenal is very different with Mikel Arteta's team looking better equipped to last the course in the race for the title this year after a late collapse last season.
The Champions League run feels like an unexpected bonus, but victory against Bayern will strengthen belief that a trophy double could be on.
ATLETICO SLUMP
Atletico has slumped in recent weeks, with six losses and only four wins in its last 12 games overall, as it missed the goals and creativity of Antoine Griezmann. The France forward is now back playing and will be looking for his first goal since Jan. 18.
Diego Simeone’s side was enjoying a 25-game unbeaten run at its Metropolitano Stadium until Barcelona delivered a 3-0 rout at Atletico on March 27.
Dortmund has generally saved its best for the Champions League this season. It isn’t a Bundesliga contender this year, but wins over Newcastle, AC Milan and most recently PSV Eindhoven have shown it means business in Europe.
BPL Football : Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintain unbeaten run defeating Sheikh Russel KC 3-1
Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their unbeaten record as the lone team in the ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24, beating former champions Sheikh Russel KC by 3-1 goals at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Saturday.
Despite the day's well merited win, Mohammedan SC remained at the 2nd slot in the league table securing 23 points from eleven matches while Sheikh Russell KC was at the 7th slot bagging 11 points from eleven encounters.
Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table securing 28 points from eleven matches while another former champion Dhaka Abahani Ltd were in distant 3rd with 19 points from eleven ties.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings thrash Ctg. Abahani 5-0
In the day's match, long serving Malian forward Souleymane Diabate scored first for the traditional black and whites Mohammedan in the 37th minute from a penalty (1-0).
Serbian left winger Vojislav Balabanovic leveled the margin for Sheikh Russel KC in the added time of the first half (45+7 minute) also from a penalty (1-1).
Uzbek midfielder Mozaffarov put Mohammedan ahead again in the 72nd minute (2-1) while local forward Jafar Iqbal sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd goal for Mohammedan in the 77th minute (3-1).
Sheikh Russell KC were reduced to 10-man as their Guinea foward Sekou Sylla got marching order in the 80th minute after receiving direct red card alongwith his coach.
Today (Saturday) is an exceptionally lucky day for Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the sports arena as their cricket team and hockey team also won their respective matches in top level.
Federation Cup Football: Holders Mohammedan SC reach semifinal eliminating Sheikh Russel
Mohammedan beat Gazi Tyres by nine wickets in the Premier Cricket League and they earned 6-3 goals victory over Police SC in the Premier Hockey League on Saturday.
However, in the day's other BPL match, former champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club played to 2-2 draw with formidable Bangladesh Police FC at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Saturday.
E E Morillo Jimenez and Al Amin scored one each for Police FC while Senegalese forward Abou Toure netted both the goals for Sheikh Jamal DC.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Abahani Ltd earn convincing win
With the day's feat, Sheikh Jamal DC advanced to the 4th slot in the league table collecting 15 points while Police FC remained at the 5th place with 14 points, playing eleven matches.each.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings thrash Ctg. Abahani 5-0
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings earned a convincing 5-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani Ltd in the ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24' at the Bir Shreshta Fl.Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshigani on Friday.
With the day's feat, Bashundhara Kings further consolidated their top slot to clinch the league crown securing 28 points from eleven matches while Chittagong Abahani Ltd went down to the 9th slot with 10 points from eleven encounters.
In the day's match, local forward Rakib Hossain struck twice in the 19th and 53rd minutes, Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes, Robson Robinho and Uzbek medio Asror Gafurov scored one goal each for the Kings in the 2nd, 13th and 45+2 minute respectively.
FIFA World Ranking: Bangladesh drops to 184th
In the day's other match, Dhaka Abahani Limited shared points middle rated Fortis FC as their crucial encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Friday.
After a barren first half, Ukrainian footballer V Gryshyn put Fortis FC ahead in the 61st minute (1-0) with the frustration of Abahani fans.
When the match was almost heading for Abahani's 3rd defeat in the league, then Saint Vincent booter Cornelius Stewart made the face-saving equaliser for sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 6th minute of the stoppage time (90+6) minute (1-1)
After the day's match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd remained in the 3rd place in the league table with 19 points from eleven league outings while Fortis SC went down to the 6th slot with 13 points from eleven matches.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Abahani Ltd earn convincing win
In a battle of two lowly teams at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi, Rahmatganj MFS beat bottom-ranked Brothers Union Club by 1-0 goal Friday afternoon.
Rahmatganj MFS moved up to the 8th place in the league table earning ten points from eleven ties while Brothers Union remained at bottom with three points from eleven matches.
M Kahraba scored the all important goal for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj in the 44th minute of the match.