De Spin Ghar Bazan Football Club of Afghanistan reached the semifinal of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football Tournament as Group-A champion outplaying Solid Sports Club of Sri Lanka by 3-1 goals in their last group match at MA Aziz Stadium.
Group-A champion Bazan FC will face Group-B runners-up hosts Chittagong Abahani Ltd in the first semifinal on Tuesday (October 27).
Bazan FC emerged unbeaten group champion securing seven points from three matches with two wins and a draw while Solid SC were eliminated from the meet with three points from three matches.
Bazan FC beat Dhaka Mohammedan SC by a solitary goal in the first match on October 21 while played a 3-3 draw against Kolkata Mohammedan SC in the 2nd match on October 23.
In the day’s last group match, Solid SC dominated the first half 1-0.
Nigerian forward OA Olayemi put Solid SC ahead in the 43rd minute. Olayemi placed the ball home deceiving goalie Yasin Jafari from the top of the six -yard box after receiving a through pass of substitute midfielder WT Danoj from the right flank (1-0).
Forward Mustafa Afshar made the equaliser for Bazan FC in the 72nd minute by a right footer from danger zone, off an Anwar Akbari cross (1-1).
Substitute forward Reza Allah Yari put Bazan FC ahead in the 78th minute. Medio Fardin Hakimi danced down in the danger zone to produce a cut back to Reza Allah Yari, who placed the ball home from the six yard box (2-1).
Captain Gholam Hazrat extended the lead for Bazan FC in the 88th minute by a right footer from the danger zone, off a substitute defender Sayed Ahamed cross from right wing (3-1).
Earlier, Solid SC missed an opportunity in the 12th minute as their midfielder AO Shola’s free kick from a 30-yard distance went out touching the crossbar.
Utilizing an opportunity of the opponent’s defender lapse, AO Shola again tried to fire the net from the danger zone in the 30th minute. However, goalie Yasin Jafari saved his castle.
Bazan FC Squad: Yasin Jafari, Sayed Mohammad Hashemi, Mohammad Rueed Samandari (Reza Allah Yari), Gholam Hazrat, Mustafa Afshar, Said Mohammad, M Anwar Akbari (Sayed Ahmed), Mehdi Rezayee (Amanullah Sardari), Zekria Azizi, Mohammad Afshar and Fardin Hakimi.
Solid SC Squad: AO Daniel, RAC Madushan, HM Amith Kumar, M Prem Kumar (WT Danoj), LATLM Liyanage (SI Supan), MKG Shanaka Prabodh, OA Olayemi, S Ganaruban (PN Priyankara), VRJE Figurado, AO Shola and TM Faseel Ayrudeen.
Referee: Faizullin Timur (Kyrgyzstan).
