In a thrilling friendly encounter held at the Bayan Stadium in Kuwait on 1st January 2025, Noakhali Sporting Club faced off against Cumilla Victory Club, ultimately succumbing to a 5-3 defeat. The match, which kicked off at 8:00 am, showcased a flurry of goals and tactical battles, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Noakhali Sporting Club adopted a 3-1-4-2 formation, which aimed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. In goal, Mohammad Robel was tasked with safeguarding the net, while a trio of defenders—AT Arman Nishu on the right, Nur Hossain in the centre, and Ahsan Ullah on the left—formed the backbone of the defence. Omar Faruk Rayhan played a pivotal role as the central midfielder, orchestrating play from the middle of the park. The attacking midfield was bolstered by Foysal Talabat on the right, Saif Al Masud in a central role, Md Roni on the left, and Ahmed Ujjal providing width. Up front, Hasibul Alam and Mohammad Mahbub were positioned as forwards, expected to convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for Noakhali included Md Borhan, Tanvir Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, and Md Foysal, who would later play crucial roles in the match as the game unfolded.
The scoring opened in the 16th minute when Md Roni found the back of the net, converting a header from a pinpoint cross delivered by Hasibul Alam. This early goal set the tone for an exciting first half, with Noakhali taking a 1-0 lead.
As the match progressed, Hasibul Alam himself got on the scoresheet in the 39th minute, scoring with a header from a corner taken by Mohammad Mahbub, doubling Noakhali's advantage to 2-0. However, just before half-time, Cumilla Victory Club struck back, scoring in the 43rd minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1, leaving the match finely poised at the break.
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions for Noakhali, with Md Borhan replacing an opponent's own goal, and Tanvir Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, and Md Foysal coming on for Foysal Talabat, Hasibul Alam, and AT Arman Nishu respectively. These changes were made in an effort to regain control and maintain the lead.
However, the tide turned dramatically in the second half. Cumilla Victory Club equalised in the 53rd minute, and their momentum continued to build as they scored again in the 68th minute, taking a 3-2 lead. The visitors were relentless, adding another goal in the 77th minute, extending their lead to 4-2.
Despite the mounting pressure, Noakhali managed to pull one back in the 85th minute when Saif Al Masud scored from inside the box, assisted by Omar Faruk Rayhan, making it 4-3. Yet, Cumilla Victory Club responded swiftly, sealing their victory with a fifth goal in the 82nd minute, leaving Noakhali with little time to mount a comeback.
In the end, the match concluded with Cumilla Victory Club triumphing 5-3, a result that highlighted both the attacking prowess and defensive frailties of Noakhali Sporting Club. The friendly served as a valuable lesson for the team as they look to refine their tactics ahead of future competitions.
