Kings and Mohammedan Reach Semi-finals

Bashundhara Kings and Mohammedan Sporting Club secured their places in the Federation Cup semi-finals after both sides won their final group-stage matches under decisive circumstances. Entering the last round with qualification scenarios still unresolved, both teams met the requirement of victory to progress, finishing level on eight points from four matches. Bashundhara Kings topped the group with two wins and two draws, while Mohammedan finished as runners-up with an identical record.

At the Kings Arena, Bashundhara Kings defeated Police FC 4–1, with Brazilian forward Doriellton Gomes scoring all four goals. Police FC managed a late consolation goal when the result was already beyond doubt. In the other match held in Cumilla, Mohammedan Sporting Club recorded a comprehensive 4–0 win over Arambagh Sporting Club, with Saurav Dewan scoring a second-half hat-trick.

Police FC’s elimination was determined by the final result despite collecting six points from their opening three matches. A draw in their final fixture would have been sufficient to secure progression, but the defeat saw them exit the competition. Fortis FC, who finished with five points from four matches, were also eliminated at the group stage.

The match at the Kings Arena featured a pivotal moment in the first half when Police FC were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute. However, Paulo Henrique’s spot-kick struck the crossbar and rebounded away. Bashundhara Kings capitalised on this missed opportunity, as Doriellton converted a penalty during first-half stoppage time to give his side the lead. In the second half, he added three more goals—one with a header and two with composed finishes—bringing his season tally to 20 goals. He was substituted after scoring his fourth goal and was not present on the pitch at full-time.

Group Standings

In recent days, there had been discussion regarding outstanding salaries of foreign players at Bashundhara Kings. In the previous match, Doriellton, along with fellow players Sunday and Toni, did not feature. Reports after that match indicated that the absence was linked to unpaid wages. While Doriellton returned to action in this fixture, the other two players remained unavailable and were not training.

Following the match, head coach Abu Jobaer Nipu addressed the issue, stating: “For various reasons, they did not play in the last match; there were some funding issues. However, Doriellton is a reliable player. If he plays as a striker, there is no problem. He trained yesterday and played today. The issue with him has been resolved. His performance has motivated the team.” He added that while foreign players would receive their payments, there could be delays, and the club was considering disciplinary action against the other two players for breaches of conduct.

There were also organisational shortcomings at the Kings Arena. Journalists covering the match faced difficulties due to the unusable condition of the designated press box, which remained closed and damaged. Although construction of a new press facility was ongoing, it was not yet operational. As a result, media personnel were required to work from an area near the VIP section without access to essential information such as team line-ups, which falls short of expected professional standards.

In Cumilla, Mohammedan’s victory followed a structured progression. Jewel Mia opened the scoring in the 40th minute, giving his side a first-half lead. After the interval, Saurav Dewan scored three consecutive goals, completing his hat-trick and confirming Mohammedan’s place in the semi-finals with a 4–0 result.