Gon University has booked their place in the final of the Ispahani-Prothom Alo Third Inter-University Football Tournament, following a commanding 6-0 semi-final victory over Chittagong Independent University. Their opponents on 15 December at 2:30 pm at the Dhaka National Stadium will be the formidable American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), who themselves secured a dramatic win in their semi-final.
In today’s first semi-final, AIUB edged past Far East International University in a tense penalty shootout, winning 6-5 after a 2-2 draw over the standard 70 minutes. Gon University, by contrast, displayed sheer dominance in their second semi-final, asserting control from the outset and leaving no doubt as to their intentions.
The highlight of Gon University’s emphatic victory was a hat-trick by Saif Samshud, whose professional experience includes playing in the second tier of Bangladesh football with Dhaka Wanderers. Complementing him was Rafael Tudu, the Mohammadan forward who has been in scintillating form, scoring eight goals in four matches this tournament, including two in today’s match. The sixth goal was added by Hira Ghosh, rounding off a comprehensive team performance.
Chittagong Independent University had a promising start and posed several early threats, but Gon University’s cohesive defensive and attacking structure eventually prevailed. The sequence of goals was as follows:
| Minute | Goal Scorer | Score |
| 29 | Saif Samshud | 1-0 |
| 35 | Hira Ghosh | 2-0 |
| 43 | Saif Samshud | 3-0 |
| 52 | Rafael Tudu | 4-0 |
| 65 | Saif Samshud | 5-0 |
| 70+ | Rafael Tudu | 6-0 |
Gon University’s squad featured experienced names from domestic leagues: Rahul Hossain (PWD goalkeeper), Sifat Shahriar (Rahmatganj stopper), Sabbir Hossain (Fakirerpool Youngmen’s defender), and Rifat Hasan (PWD, Championship League). Their combined experience and tactical discipline proved decisive in securing this resounding victory.
The Match MVP award was presented to Saif Samshud at a ceremony attended by notable figures including former national team captain Ashrafuluddin Ahmed Chunnu, Gon University Registrar Engr. Wahiduzzaman, Ispahani Tea marketing head Omar Hannan, and former captain Biplob Bhattacharya among others.
Meanwhile, AIUB continues their journey to the final, overcoming setbacks twice during regular time in their semi-final before goalkeeper Rajib Islam, formerly of Chittagong Abahani, made crucial saves in the tie-breaker to seal their passage. Gon University now faces AIUB in what promises to be a thrilling clash for the championship.
