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Muktis' fatal loss

SPORTS REPORTER
Muktijoddha Sangsad's hopes of moving into the second phase of the AFC Cup were effectively over when they lost 2-1 to Nebitchi
FC of Turkmenistan in a crucial Group A match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Vitaliy Alikperov scored both the goals in the first half for the Turkmenistan league champions who overcame the stifling heat to take perfect revenge for their 1-0 home defeat two weeks ago against the Reds.
Inside an almost barren Bangabandhu National Stadium, Muktijoddha's consolation came halfway through the second half courtesy of an own goal by Nebithci defender Yagmyrmyrat.
Both the teams started the fourth
round game on equal four points.
The visitors got off to a dream start when Turkmenistan international Vitaliy rose above the Reds defence to head home a corner with just three minutes on the clock.
The Muktis took time to settle down with only Arman Miah impressing in the first half. The mercurial playmaker tested Reje Pberdi in the Nebitchi goal with three long range strikes. The best was a solo dash when he cut in from the left and unleashed a rasping left footer which Pberdi parried for a corner.
The Muktis were served the sucker punch six minutes before half time when an attempted offside trap went badly wrong. Nebitchi Arazov Hojaahmet found acres of space on the left and raced into the box after being set free by Vitaliy and was tripped by Muktijoddha goalkeeper Aminul Islam. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Vitaliy converted the penalty.
With Nebitchi content on sitting on their two-goal cushion in the
second half, the Reds pressed hard but with no forward with the ability to take advantage of Belal's famous long throws, scoring was always going to be a tough ask. Ghanaian defender Charles Ghansah who played in the midfield, muffed a nice chance when he received a lose ball but his weak shot from seven yards went straight to the goalkeeper in the 56th minute.
The home side got a lifeline in the 72nd minute when Yagmyrmyrat headed the ball into his own post while trying to clear a centre by Mutkijoddha rightback Firoze Mahmud Titu.
Muktis came close to snatching at least a point but Enamul, hero of their away win, spoiled two sitters inside five minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Moni set up the rookie striker but the goalkeeper foiled his left-footed
SEE PAGE 13 COL 5 FROM PAGE 12
shot from five yards. He then failed to connect an Arman cross from point-blank range.
Muktijoddha coach Shafiqul Islam Manik blamed luck for the defeat.
"We played better here than in the away match. But I am confused about the second goal. It looked like an offside and I feel Aminul made no contact with the player. That was the turning point," Manik said.
"We dominated the second half when they were negative but our forwards were not up to it," said the former national footballer.
Meredov Amanm, the Nebithci coach who visited Dhaka last year with another Turkmenistan club Nisa FC, was understandably elated.
"We did not expect to win in this weather. It was too hot and our players struggled towards the end. We are happy to beat a very good side and now we have a very good chace of qualifying for the knockout stage," said Amanm.