Muktijoddha reach last four beating Sheikh Russell

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC reached the last four of the Grameenphone Super Cup Football when they came from behind to snatch a 2-1 goals victory over Sheikh Russell KC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city Thursday, reports UNB.

With the day's win, Muktijoddha SKC emerged group B champion with four points, while Sheikh Russell KC, which made exit from the meet with the day's loss, has one point as both complete their group matches.

Dhaka Mohammedan SC, which finished group B runners-up with two points, will play the first semifinal against group A champion Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, while Muktijoddha SKC will meet Dhaka Abahani Limited in the second semis.

Both the semifinals and the final will be held after the national team completes their home match of the World Cup qualifier against Lebanon on July 28.

Earlier, the two semifinals were scheduled for July 16 and 17 while the final on July 19.

In the day's match, Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola and Mithun Chowdhury scored one goal each for Muktijoddha Sangsad KC while Nigerian forward Effiong Duke netted the lone goal for Sheikh Russell KC.

The match was locked 1-1 during the first half.

Nigerian forward Effiong Duke scored first for Sheikh Russell KC in the 32 minute with a placing shot from inside the danger zone after taking a close pass from compatriot Bangoura Ismael (1-0).

But Mithun Chowdhury restored parity for Muktijoddha SKC in the injury time of the first half with a close range shot after the ball from Motiur Munna's attempt at goal came his way when it was fisted away by Sheikh Russell goalie (1-1).

After the lemon break, Sheikh Russell KC missed a certain goal in the 65th minute when advancing Duke's close header off a right wing minus by substitute Babu sailed harmlessly over the cross bar.

Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola confirmed the Muktijoddha SKC triumph in the 67th minute with a grounder from inside the D-box as Munna's well-judged shot from vantage position came his way after hitting the goalpost (2-1).

Sheikh Russell KC got another scoring chance to level the margin in the 85th minute, but as onrushing Duke pushed the ball off Ghanaian recruit Moro's right wing minus it narrowly went out of play beside the side bar.

Mithun Chowdhury of Muktijoddha Sangsad KC was adjudged the man of the match for his brilliant performance.

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC - Biplob, Rajani, Paul, Nasiruddin, Sweet, Motiur Munna, Maruf, Arman, Mithun (Johirul), Bukola, Ronny (Rana).

Sheikh Russel KC - Mamun, Aminul, Prodip, Bappi, Abbas, Moro, Manik, Raju, Yusuf (Babu), Duke (Wahed) and Ismael.

Referee - Abdul Hannan Miron.

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Sheikh Russell want instalments for fine

Dhaka, July 13 (bdnews24.com) ? Sheikh Russell Krira Chokro have propose d a 10-year instalment plan to pay the fine amount slapped by FIFA, says Nurul Alam Chowdhury.

President of Sheikh Russell also confirmed that the amount will be payable to German footballer Mohammed Abdulai.

Bangladesh League club Sheikh Russell was slapped $ 36,567 for breaching a contract with Abdulai by FIFA, the governing body of world football.

"We proposed to pay the amount in Bangladeshi currency divided into instalments spreading over ten years. The player himself will have to come and receive the amount," Sheikh Russell president Nurul Alam said in a talk with reporters on Tuesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

"But we did not breach contract. As his performance was not good, we sent him back with a regular salary of $4,000 and air fare," he added.

Nurul Alam claimed that it was done in line with the club's rule.

Sheikh Russell contracted Abdulai in 2009 and declined to keep him after playing two matches, which resulted into a complaint to FIFA by Abdulai.

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Nadal opens Wimbledon defence against Russell

London, June 18 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? World number one Rafa Nadal will open the defence of his Wimbledon title against American Michael Russell and has been drawn in the other half of the draw to Roger Federer, raising the possibility of another final between the great rivals.

Six-times champion Federer, the third seed, starts his campaign against Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin, and has been drawn in the same half as world number two Novak Djokovic whose 41-match winning streak was broken by the Swiss this month.

The Serb could face Federer in the last four, weeks after the former world number one beat him in the French Open semi-finals to inflict his first defeat of the year.

Had Djokovic won that match, he would have ousted Nadal from the number one spot but instead the Spaniard arrives at the All England Club with his top ranking in tact as he seeks a third Wimbledon crown.

Djokovic takes on France's Jeremy Chardy in the first round, while Nadal's potential semi-final opponent Andy Murray opens his campaign against Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Home favourite Murray, the fourth seed, warmed up for the tournament with victory at the Queen's Club grasscourt event, heightening public expectations of a first British men's grand slam champion since 1936.

The first-round limelight could be stolen by American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, who have been drawn against each other a year after their epic 11-hour battle in the same round, the longest ever tennis match.

"Isner vs Mahut drawing each other in the first round after last year is the most amazing thing I've seen in tennis!" Murray tweeted.

TRICKY DRAW

In the women's singles, champion Serena Williams was drawn in the opposite side of the draw to her sister and five-times champion Venus but in the same half as world number one Caroline Wozniacki and another pre-tournament favourite Maria Sharapova.

Serena, seeded seventh after being sidelined for almost a year because of life-threatening blood clots on a lung as well as a foot injury, takes on France's Aravane Rezai in the first round of what could be a tricky draw for her.

Wozniacki, seeking a maiden grand slam title, has a straightforward-looking opening match against world number 107 Arantxa Parra Santonja but danger lurks in the shape of Sharapova.

The Russian 2004 champion, who reached the French Open semi-finals this month after returning to some of her best form after two years of struggling with a shoulder injury, is seeded fifth and could meet Wozniacki in the quarter-finals.

French Open champion Li Na of China, who became the first Asian player to win a grand slam title this month, is also in Serena's half of the draw and faces Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva in round one.

Venus, back from an injury layoff, could pose an early threat to last year's runner-up Vera Zvonareva and the American knows how to win from a lower seeding having triumphed in 2007 as the 23rd seed, the same as she is this time.

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