Mohammedan Sporting Club left it very late in a less-than-convinclng 1-0 victory over Sunrise Sporting Club in a Citycell Federation Cup match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

In ninety uninspiring minutes, the Dhaka giants created chances that came few and far between against a Senior Division side who looked surprisingly better at times. Mohammedan were always the better side, be it on paper or out in the centre, but this was a match when the end result spoke correctly of the state of the match.

Robin, oneoftwo strikers employed by Mohammedan, slammed in the all-important goal in the 87th minute when he drove home a low shot past the Sunrise goalkeeper Sunny. But the goal was created due to midfielder Sharifs quick thinking as he fed Robin from the right, despite being marked by two Sunrise defenders.

Sharif, Maruf and Faisal --Mohammedan's midfield trio --

kept things under control at most times but whenever they would swing in a cross or feed Robin or his striking partner Rony, the ball simply trickled into Sunny's hand.

In the ninth minute, Sharif played a ball through to Rony but the striker s shot from the left side blazed over the bar. A minute later, it was Faisal who went ahead but his shot, from virtually the same spot, found the 'keeper.

Mohammedan did all the running in .the first-half and whatever Sunrise tried was easily dealt by skipper Jewel Rana and the towering Shaikat.

The best chance of the first 45 minutes came through the Sunrise custodian's poor clearance.

In the 24th minute, Sunny's miskick found Sharif, not too far away, and the midfielder tapped the ball on to Rony's feet but the striker, who only had the goalkeeper to beat, messed it up and as it usually happens, the ball simply blazed over the crossbar.

Jewel Rana's header was saved off the line by Azad after Maruf s comer found the Mohammedan captain five minutes later.

In the last ten minutes of the first-half, Mohammedan created several chances but there seemed to be no one in the end of any ball.

For a team that hails from a lower division, Sunrise made their presence felt.

Their midfield were found wanting but they should proud of their defence, who at times looked at ease, especially in the second - half.

Raju made sure Sunrise had at least one shot at goal although it sailed past Aminul's goal in the55th minute.

Six minutes before the goal, Maruf swung in a corner and found Rajani who slammed in a shot only to be thwarted by a defender. That clearance went as far as Shaikat who drove towards goal but it was Sunny's best save as he moved smartly to his left to stop the ball.

In the day's other match, Arambagh got the better of Rahmatganj by 2-1. Jerry scored both goals for Arambagh while Francis reduced the gap.

I I AMS

MOHAMMEDAN: Aminul, Rajani, Jewel Rana, Shaikat, Arman, Nasir, Faisal, Maruf (Kamal), Sharif, Rony (Komol), Robin.

SUNRISE: Sunny, Mamun, Mizan (Shaon), Azad, Shanto, Liton, Mahfuz, Jewel, Babu, Atique. Sujon. Yellow cards: Annan (Mohammedan). Referee: Azad Rahman.