Bashundhara Kings thrash Mohammedan 4-1 to win Challenge Cup

The only difference was in the scoreline. Last year at Kings Arena, Mohammedan lost 3-1 in the Challenge Cup final despite taking an early lead. On Friday, on their home ground in the same competition, Mohammedan lost 4-1 after a 1-1 first-half draw. Mario Gómez's Bashundhara Kings wrote the story of victory with just 10 men.

The match was scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm at Cumilla's Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium but kicked off at 2:41 pm as it took 11 extra minutes to prepare the field. In the first half, an unusual scene caught attention—two men were cutting grass just beside Mohammedan's dugout! That sight, however, disappeared after the break.

Both teams fought evenly in the first half, sharing one penalty goal apiece within 14 minutes. Kings, though, dominated possession. In the 7th minute, Mohammedan's Mehedi Hasan fouled Dorielton Gomes inside the box. From the spot, Dorielton made no mistake to give Kings the lead. But it did not last long. In the 13th minute, Kings defender Tariq Kazi brought down Mohammedan's Eli Kekee inside the area. Referee Saimon Hasan immediately pointed to the spot. Mozafarov converted the penalty to level the match.

The contest heated up at 1-1. In the 25th minute, Kings' Rafael Augusto swung in a free-kick which was headed by Emmanuel Sunday but went wide. Mohammedan earned corners but failed to create any real threat. Towards the end of the first half, Kings pressed harder but Mohammedan goalkeeper Sujan Hossain produced some fine saves.

The second half started with both sides eager for goals, but the game turned dramatically in the 63rd minute. Kings' midfielder Sohel Rana Senior committed a foul in midfield and was shown a second yellow card. Kings were reduced to 10 men.

What followed was almost unbelievable. With a man down, Kings struck twice in just three minutes to seal the game. In the 72nd minute, Augusto pounced on a loose ball after a corner was only half-cleared by Mehedi Hasan and drove it into the net with his left foot. Two minutes later, Sunday capitalised on a defensive lapse to make it 3-1.

In the 86th minute, another Mohammedan error gifted Kings their fourth goal. From Sunday's pass, Dorielton calmly slotted the ball home.

Frustrated Mohammedan fans threw smoke flares onto the field after their team fell three goals behind, forcing a five-minute stoppage. Once order was restored, match commissioner Sujit Kumar instructed play to resume. Deep into added time, smoke flares were thrown again, but the game continued this time.

Last season, Kings celebrated the title with a 3-1 win over Mohammedan in the same competition at Kings Arena. That match also saw smoke flares thrown by home fans, which drew much criticism afterwards.