Mohammedan Sporting Club stunned Bashundhara Kings to a 2-1 goal defeat in the first semifinal match of the ongoing Bashundhara Group Federation Cup 2022-23 at the Sheikh FazlulHaque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday.

The high-flying Kings’ unbeaten run in the domestic football was ended after 45 matches in domestic competitions including two BPL, Independence Cup and Federation Cup since their first defeat to Swadhinata Krira Sangha (1-2 goals) in the opening match of the 14th BPL in 2022.

Kings withdrew their participation from the last year’s Federation Cup as a part of protest against the Bangladesh Football Federation’s unethical fixture format. So, the giants had a plan to secure all three top tier domestic titles before starting campaigns in AFC Champions League and AFC Cup this year.

After having the title of the season’s curtain raiser Independence Cup in last December, the Bashundhara-based outfit are awaiting to crown their fourth consecutive title of Bangladesh Premier League at the end of this month.

Mohammedan, in contrast, reached the final of this competition after 14 years. The traditional black and white last played in the final in 2009 when they clinched the title knocking down arch-rivals Dhaka Abahani by 4 (0)-1 (0) goals.

On Tuesday, Nigerian forward Sunday Chukwuemeka Emmanuel took a third minute lead for Mohammedan off a quick pass from Brazilian defender Roger Duarte de Oliveira but Kings’ Brazilian star Dorielton Gomes Nascimentoequalised the margin with a right-footed grounder to the far post few minutes before the break. 

Mohammedan’s memorable victory was confirmed when their Malian captain SouleymaneDiabate unleashed a thunderbolt of a strike to beat Kings’ second goalkeeper Mehedi Hassan off a pass from Emmanuel ten minutes after the interval.

The Kings were seen to suffer a lot at the midfield and defence amid absences of Brazilian captain Robson Robinho and dependent goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico.

Blaming the poor finishing, Kings’ head of strategy and planning Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu told The Daily Sun, “They (Mohammedan) got four chances and converted two out of them. We have failed. Robson and Zico missed the game. If they had played today (Tuesday), the result would have been different.”

Meanwhile, the second semifinal between Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd and Dhaka Abahani will take place on May 16 in Cumilla. The final of the tournament will be held on May 30 while the third place decider on May 23.