The otherwise sharpshooters of The Daily Star however came unstuck in the mud at the Bangabandhu National Stadium and had to settle for a goalless draw against The Daily Ittefaq, for whom the result meant an early exit from the seven-a-side annual meet for the media houses.

The leading English daily might rue a few missed opportunities but they could still make grade if the sun shines today and its strike force fires against private TV channel CSB News in a make or break battle.

The second day however saw some worthy winners with The Daily Inqilab posting the biggest win, a 4-1 success over Banglabazar Patrika. The Independent blanked Daily Sangram 3-0 while New Age won the clash of two English dailies 2-0 against Financial Express.

Dark horses UNB recorded a lone goal win against former champions Daily Jugantor. The victory took the private news agency into the last eight of the football festival.