Dhaka: Newcomers Bashundhara Kings, in their first appearance in the top level of football, clinched the title of the 13-team prestigious Walton Independence Cup Football Tournament beating former triple-crown winner Sheikh Russel KC by 2-1 goals in the final at floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Local forward Motin Miah who took the field as a substitute player scored the match winner for big-budgeted Bashundhara Kings in the 6th minute of the extra time as the match was locked in 1-1 goal in the stipulated 90 minutes, reports the UNB. 

Brazilian medio Marcos Vinicius Da Costa put Bashundhara Kings ahead in the 16th minute by a left-legged long shot from about 25 yards (1-0).

Nigerian midfielder Raphael Odoyin levelled the margin for Sheikh Russel KC in the injury time of the first half (46th minute), also by a long shot from top of the box that kissed the Kings net through the 2nd bar to lock the match 1-1 during the first half. 

Kings’ lucky player Motin Miah scored the match decider in the 6th minute of the extra time by an angular shot from the goal mouth melee to the huge cheers from the Kings supporters (2-1). 

Motin Miah also scored the first goal for Bashundhara Kings in the 2nd semifinal on Thursday last, but Haitian forward Kervens Belfort restored the parity for Dhaka Abahani Limited in 1-1 draw in the stipulated 90-minute time to lead the match towards tie-breaker. 

Later in the tie-breaker, Kings reached the final at the coffin of holders Dhaka Abahani Limited beating them by 7-6 goals in the sudden death session.      

Newcomers Bashundhara Kings, which formed a strong team recruiting local and foreign star players to make championship fight in the top level of the country’s football, reached the final of the season’s curtain raiser meet—Federation Cup Football Tournament, but lost the trophy to mighty Dhaka Abahani Limited by 1-3 goals in the final last month. 

Bashundhara Kings smartly moved into the final eliminating holders Dhaka Abahani Limited by 7-6 goals in the sudden death session of tie-breaker last Thursday as the crucial 2nd semifinal match between the two national star-studded teams was locked in 1-1 goal in the stipulated 90 minutes and also in the extra session of 30 minutes. 

Sheikh Russel KC reached the final eliminating Brothers Union Club by 2-0 goals in the first semifinal on Wednesday last.

Both the teams reached the final from death group of D eliminating formidable Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.