Victory ensures a strong presence in knockout rounds

Victory Sports Club has defeated Club Lagoons 4-1 during last evening's match to enter the quarter-finals of the Second Division Football Tournament.

Last season's third-tier champions Lagoons had won both their group matches before the match. Victory has nine points from three matches, while the Lagoons have six points.

Clubs PK and Lorenzo Sports Club, who are in Group C alongside Victory and Lagoons, have three points from three games, while Bisburu Sports are without a point from their last two games.

Having faced relegation from the first division following a suspension, Victory also participated in the previous second division. However, their performance was subpar, concluding the tournament during the group stage with an unimpressive squad.

However, they came to the ongoing 2023 second division tournament with more preparation, appointing Sobah Mohamed Ibrahim as the coach and signing new skilled players.

The Lagoon team led by Ash’ad Ali (Adey) failed to make the most of their chances on Sunday, but Victory swung the lead in the 39th minute when Hussain Faisal (Faito) hit the post. Faisal scored the goal by taking advantage of when the ball was released from Mohamed Imran, who played for the Lagoons and had previously played for Victory, as well as the national team.

Mohamed Umair widened the lead for Victory by scoring a goal through a head shot.

In the second half, all three goals were scored by foreign players. Uzbekistan midfielder Farooq Haidarov completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute, and Sri Lanka's forward, Mohamed Shifan, representing Lagoons, scored in the 74th minute, breaking their scoreless game.

Uzbekistani defender Furukatjon Hasanboev scored the last goal of the match in the 89th minute.