Saif SC, Baridhara through

Title contenders Saif SC edged past Arambagh KS with a single-goal win to advance into the quarterfinals of Walton Federation Cup in their final group-stage match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

With their third successive win, Saif SC emerged champions of Group B. Meanwhile, Uttar Baridhara thrashed Brothers Union 3-0 in the day's first game to finish second in the same group, clearing group stages of any tournament for the first time.

Having won the first two matches, Saif SC's Belgian coach Paul Put rested five regular players. But despite that move, Saif SC never seemed to be in trouble against Arambagh, who had to win the contest in order to qualify.  Saif SC came close to breaking the deadlock on a few occasions in the first half while Arambagh could make just one mentionable attacking move. Saif SC's altered forward line-up failed to hit the target until Arifur Rahman came from the bench to score with his first touch in the 57th minute from the left flank, thanks to a deflection off a defender inside the danger area.

And that single goal was good enough for Saif SC as well as Uttar Baridhara Club, who, despite winning their match against Brothers earlier, would not have qualified to the knockout stages had Arambagh won.

Uttar Baridhara Club started from where they had left off against Arambagh in their previous game as they took only 13 minutes to take the lead against Brothers. The Gopibagh-based outfit let three past them on the day as they crashed out of the Federation Cup, losing all three of their group-stage encounters and conceding as many as 11 goals.

Uttar Baridhra could have taken the lead sooner had national striker Suman Reza not missed a sitter from inside the six-yard box before Uzbek midfielder Evgeniy Kochnev put them ahead in the 13th minute following a fumble from a Brothers defender.

Suman made amends later as he doubled their lead in the 26th minute, making most of a through-pass from Egyptian forward Abdel Khalek Hamma.

Suman, however, squandered another opportunity in the 32nd minute.

Egyptian defender Abdel Rahim wrapped up the victory for Uttar Baridhara in the 59th minute with a brilliant placing shot in between two defenders after he chested down a cross from Abdel Khalek Hammad from the right flank.