Mohammedan seal final berth in added-time drama

Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited have booked their place in the Federation Cup final following a breathless 2-1 victory over Brothers Union at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time winner from the irrepressible Sourav Dewan.

The Black and Whites will now face reigning champions Bashundhara Kings in the showpiece event on 19 May at the Kings Arena, setting the stage for a tantalising clash between traditional pedigree and modern domestic dominance.

In a highly competitive and often fractious encounter in Comilla, it was Mohammedan who seized the initiative late in the first half.

The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute through a ruthlessly effective set-piece routine.

Rahmat Mia launched a trademark long throw-in into a heavily populated penalty area.

The Brothers defence was guilty of catastrophic marking, leaving a glaring pocket of space for Sourav, who rose highest to direct a superb header into the back of the net, sending the travelling Mohammedan faithful into raptures.

Following the interval, Mohammedan pushed to extend their advantage and kill the tie, but Brothers dug deep, gradually clawing their way back into the contest.

Their persistence paid off in spectacular fashion in the 73rd minute.

Earning a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area, veteran midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan stepped up and delivered a moment of sheer magic.

He curled a breathtaking strike over the defensive wall, completely outfoxing Mohammedan goalkeeper Sujon Hossain.

The equaliser injected a massive surge of belief into the Oranges, who dominated the ensuing exchanges with invigorated, high-octane football.

As the clock ticked to the 90-minute mark, the match seemed inextricably destined for the gruelling uncertainty of extra time.

The fourth official signalled four minutes of added time, and it was in this dying window that the tie was dramatically decided.

Mohammedan’s Uzbek maestro, Muzaffarjon Muzaffarov, whipped in a dangerous corner, sparking a chaotic scramble inside the penalty box.

Amidst the frantic bodies and desperate clearances, Sourav once again proved to be the man for the big occasion.

He latched onto the loose ball and unleashed a thunderous strike through the crowd, deceiving everyone to find the back of the net.

Despite Brothers Union throwing bodies forward in a desperate final assault over the remaining three minutes, Abdul Kayum Sentu’s side held their nerve, managed the clock astutely, and saw the game out to secure the victory.

However, the intense stakes of the qualifier spilled over into unsavoury scenes after the final whistle.

A scuffle broke out between the players of both sides, momentarily marring an otherwise thrilling cup tie.

Team officials were forced to sprint onto the pitch to separate the warring factions and restore order.