Riding on hat-trick from Fikru Teferra of Ethiopia, Sheikh Russel KC earned their successive second win in the KFC Independence Cup Football tournament beating a fighting BJMC 3-2 yesterday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
After winning the match, Russel went closer to move into semifinal  from Group B, while BJMC despite conceding the defeat have a slim hope to move forward, as they won their first match with defeating Rahmatganj by a solitary goal.
In the day’s first match, Russel had to struggle to manage the victory against the ten-man BJMC as they did in their opening match against Arambagh KS to manage a 2-1 victory.
However, Fikru led Russel in the very fifth minute when he converted a penalty giving no chance to BJMC goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel.
BJMC stunned the title contenders Russel when they equalised the margin just three minute later with Eleta Kingsley scored a nice goal when the ball came to his way inside goal-mouth melee from a combined attack (1-1).
Russel, despite being in the commanding position could not extend the lead and had to go for break with 1-1 but had to wait for second goal for 50 minutes when Fikru doubled the advantage on 55th minute.
Fikru, who was the scorer of the second hat-trick of the season after Wedson Anselme of Sheikh Jamal slammed the first one, celebrated his second goal of the match with somersaults when the Ethiopian stunned all with an spectacular header on a Atiqur Rahman Mishu floating cross  on 55th minute (2-1).
BJMC reduced to ten-man when Baybeck saw double yellow to have the marching order on 60th minute but trying to fight evenly, as they were closer to score the equalise the margin again but an effort of Mehdi Hassan Topu was saved from goal-line by Meshu on 73rd.
Fikru gave Russel further lead when he completed his hat-trick with a second chance after his first attempt rebounded the goalkeeper and he snatched the ball from a defender to beat the keeper on 76th minute (3-1).
The hard working BJMC did not lose their pace scored another goal to make the tally 2-3 and this time Samson Iliasu placed the ball in the far post from the penalty box on 83rd minute.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan Sporting Club kept their hope alive to make a room in the last four when they had a hard fought 2-0 victory over Uttar Baridhara in the day’s second match of the KFC Independence Cup tournament.
Masuk Meah Jony volleyed home to send Mohammedan into lead in the 10th minute when the ball came to way after Sajib crossed from left side with Sifat nodding the ball down inside the area (1-0).
Mohammedan could double the lead but Ismail Bangura failed to convert a penalty as Baridhara goalkeeper Razib saved his weak spot kick with a left hand dive on 21st.
Mohammedan, who suffered a 2-0 defeat in their opener to Sheikh Jamal were very closer to extend the tally but Baridhara keeper Rajib again made a brilliant save to deny a powerful close range effort of Ismail Bangura on 82nd minute.
Mohammedan finally came to double their margin just before few seconds of the final whistle when Ismail Bangura scored a superb goal from top of the box with sending the ball from a free kick over the wall (2-0).   
It was consecutive second defeat of Baridhara, who went down to Brothers Union by 0-2 in their opening match.