Bashundhara Kings clinch title after thriller

Bashundhara Kings clinched the Federation Cup title after a thrilling 3-2 win over Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited in the grand finale in the capital’s Kings Arena on Wednesday.

Mohammedan drew first blood in just the fifth minute through a stunning free-kick from midfielder Muzaffar Muzaffarov.

Awarded a set-piece just outside the box, the Uzbek midfielder's powerful strike sailed into the far corner of the net.

Kings responded almost immediately, winning a penalty in the very next minute.

Mohammedan players protested furiously against the decision, halting play for two minutes, but the referee stood firm.

Dorielton Gomes stepped up and converted the spot-kick to level the scores.

In an end-to-end affair, Mohammedan earned a penalty of their own in the 22nd minute after Saiful was brought down from behind by Topu Barman inside the box.

However, Muzaffarov failed to double the advantage this time, as goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon dived brilliantly to keep it out.

Srabon was finally beaten in the 34th minute by a well-worked Mohammedan move.

Zahid Shanto cut the ball back from the right into the box, Saiful played a dummy, and Sourav Dewan — arriving just behind — slotted home with a precise right-footed finish.

It was his seventh goal of the tournament.

Kings came close to equalising before the break, but Dorielton's well-placed header struck the post and went wide.

After the interval, the Brazilian striker proved unstoppable.

He first broke the offside trap to latch onto a through ball from Rakib Hossain before finishing coolly. 

Then, in the 80th minute, Dorielton struck again — collecting a pass from Shahriar Imon, driving into the box, and finishing with the same clinical precision.

Having won the Independence Cup, the League and the Federation Cup this season, the Kings mirror their historic 2023–24 treble of the Independence Cup, League and Federation Cup — cementing their dominance in Bangladeshi club football.