Reigning Champions Bashundhara Kings will lock horns with former three-time holders traditional Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) in a high voltage final of the season's curtain raiser soccer meet, the Independence Cup Football 2023 at Sheikh fazlul Haque Mani Stadium, Goplaganj at 9:45 pm on Monday. The Kings and MSC both have a dream to win the coveted trophy.
The Kings sank Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani by 4-0 in their home ground, Bashundhara Kings Arena Stadium, in the second semifinal on Friday evening.
It was the biggest victory for the Kings so far against Dhaka Abahani Limited since their first appearance in top-level football in the country.
After a barren first half in the day's second semifinal, the star-studded Bashundhara Kings scored all four goals in the second half.
The Kings dare to dream of winning the trophy for the third time. Oscar Bruzon’s side have all the qualities to become champions in the tournament. They scored seven goals and conceded one in four matches. Their defense line is very strong, so the opponents only managed to score one goal against them. Therefore, the Black & Whites have a stern test ahead of them that is for sure.
Kings striker Sohel Rana, Brazilian trio midfielder Miguel Damasceno, forward Dorielton Gomes, and skipper Robson Robinho can be heroes in today’s game. These four strikers may be dangerous and destroy MSC’s defense line.
Apart from these strikers, Kings forward Masuk Mia Jony and Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira can change the fate of the outings at any time.
Earlier, MSC reached the final after nine years. The Motijheel outfit became champions in 2014. Souleymane Diabate won over the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS by a solitary goal in the first semifinal at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium, Goplaganj, on Friday. Uzbekistan striker Muzaffar Muzaffarov scored the lone goal from a free kick for the Black & Whites.
Coach Alfaz Ahmed knows very well that the Kings are a very strong team, and the match will be a hard fight. MSC will try their level best to win the final. The Black & Whites want to vanquish their failure of nine-year drought.