Unheralded Sourav steers Mohammedan to Fed Cup final

Forward Sourav Dewan scored twice as Mohammedan Sporting Club booked their place in the Federation Cup final with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Brothers Union in an ill-tempered Qualifier-3 fixture at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday.

On May 19, 11-time champions Mohammedan will square off against four-time champions Bashundhara Kings in the final -- the second Fed Cup title decider between the two heavyweights in the last three seasons.

Sourav, who once warmed the bench before Abdul Kaiyum Sentu took charge of the Black and Whites from the second leg of the Bangladesh Football League (BFL), gave Mohammedan a timely lead in the 38th minute after nodding home a back-header from Ghanaian defender Eli Keke Emmanuel.

Brothers, however, equalised after the interval as captain Jamal Bhuiyan struck a scintillating curling free kick from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute.

Sourav finally wrapped up the victory with a powerful side volley in stoppage time after Minhajur Abedin Rakib chested down a low corner from Uzbekistan’s Muzzaffarjon Muzzafarov.

After being virtually ruled out of the BFL title race at the end of the first phase, the popular Black and Whites shifted their focus to the Federation Cup, with Sourav playing a vital role. The 24-year-old forward has now scored six goals in his last three matches -- a hat-trick against Arambagh Krira Sangha in the final group match, one against Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in Qualifier-2, and a brace against Brothers in Qualifier-3.

“As we lag behind in the league despite being the defending champions, we set our target to play the Federation Cup final,” Sourav told The Daily Star.

“I am really happy to contribute to the team’s win because there was hardly any chance to return to the match after conceding the equaliser, and it is pleasing for me that the team won the match through my strike.”

Sourav suddenly hogged the limelight at the start of the second leg of the professional football league as coach Sentu kept faith in him by fielding the forward regularly in the Federation Cup and in the last three BFL matches.

“I am getting opportunities under Sentu sir and trying to repay the faith he has shown in me,” said the lad from Tangail. “I think I have a goalscoring ability, but I could not prove myself because I was hardly given game time previously.”

Sourav has been with the Black and Whites for three consecutive seasons after joining Mohammedan from BCL outfit Dhaka Wanderers Club, where he scored 14 goals in the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old also netted five goals -- four in the league and one in the Federation Cup -- last season for Mohammedan.

Brothers dominated much of the match and created more chances than Mohammedan, but Pakistan’s Shayak Dost, Nigerian Samuel Ononiwu, Pakistani Alamgir Ali Khan and local forward Insan Hossain failed to capitalise on their opportunities, while Mohammedan made the most of two of their four chances to somewhat make up for their league disappointment by reaching the final.

The high-intensity match also saw a fight break out among players from both sides after the final whistle. Mohammedan defender Jahid Hossain Shanto and Uzbek midfielder Muzzafarov were seen bleeding from the nose following alleged attacks by Brothers players -- Senegalese Mouhamed Becaye Diarra and Guinean Ibrahim Barry -- who were later sent off.