Bashundhara Kings made a good start in the 35th edition of the Federation Cup Football, the country’s top-tier club football tournament, beating Fortis FC by a 1-0 goal in one of the two opening day’s matches at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday.

Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes scored the match-winning goal for the BPL and Independence Cup champions Bashundhara Kings in the 11th minute of the keenly contested match (1-0) and was adjudged the best player of the match.

The day’s other match between Bangladesh Police FC and Rahmatganj MFS ended in a 2-2 draw at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Tuesday afternoon.

Local forward Shahed Miah scored first for Police FC in the 19th minute (1-0), while Ghanaian forward Samuel Konney restored parity for Rahmayganj MFS in the 41st minute (1-1).

Colombian striker Edis Horacio again put Police FC ahead in the 68th minute from a penalty (2-1).

Another Ghanian booter, Ernest Boateng, again neutralised the margin for the old Dhaka outfit, Rahmatganj MFS, in the 77th minute, also from a penalty (2-2).

Rahmatganj MFS also forced former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited to play a 1-1 draw in their opening BPL match last Friday.

The next Federation Cup matches will be held after about three weeks, on January 16.

Holders Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Chittagong Abahani Ltd at 2:45 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj, while runners-up Dhaka Abahani Ltd will also face Brothers Union Club at 2:45 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here in Group B matches on the day.

All ten Premier League football teams, split into three groups, are taking part in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football, initially on a league basis.

The matches scheduled for every Tuesday of the week in the country’s three different venues—Bashundhara Kings Arena, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni in Gopalganj, and Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj—along with the BPL are to be held every Friday and Saturday.

The four quarterfinals of the Federation Cup Football will be held on April 2, 16, 21, and 30, respectively, with two semifinals billed for May 7 and 14, while the final match is scheduled for May 21.