Table-toppers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club kicked off their second phase of the Bangladesh Premier league with a 2-1 win over Chittagong Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. Defender Nasiruddin Chowdhury proved that a good footballer can play in a striker’s position too. Though starting his career as a striker, Nasir became a defender in the recent years, but his ability to score crucial goals for his team remained as ever as his late brace rescued Jamal after conceding an early goal.
Sohel Miah put Chittagong Abahani ahead in the eighth minute after a weak back-header from Sheikh Jamal defender Didarul Haque, which goalkeeper Ziaur Rahman failed to grab and Sohel made no mistake to put the ball back into the net.
After conceding the early goal Sheikh Jamal tried hard to restore parity, but in the absence of their two main strikers – Haitian Sony Norde and captain Mamunul Islam – the Dhanmondi-based outfit failed to break the defence of Chittagong Abahani.
In the 20th minute, Jamal’s Nigerian midfielder Ali Amisu’s header on a Sohel Rana corner struck the post.
Sheikh Jamal coach Joseph Afusi made a crucial change in his game plan in the 71st minute as before bringing Nasiruddin into the striking zone, he substituted Onyekachi by defender Mohammad Linkon.
And Afusi got the result just two minute after the substitution, as Nasir headed home a Wedson Anselme cross from the left.
In the penultimate minute of the regulation time, Nasir sealed the victory as he volleyed home another neat cross from Wedson to give Sheikh Jamal a precious win.
With the victory Sheikh Jamal remained at the top with 24 points while Chittagong Abahani are ninth with five points.
In the second match of the day, Abahani Limited lost to Brothers Union 1-0, an own goal.
Brothers sealed only their third win in the league and went ahead in the 37th minute thanks to an own goal from Abahani’s defender Nasirul Islam. The defender sent a back0pass to keeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, who was not in position to clear the ball and saw the ball roll into back of the net.
The sky-blue outfit had their chances of restoring parity as Portuguese forward Leonildo Soares squandered a chance in the 75th minute, blasting the ball over the bar from close range.
With the victory, the Gopibagh outfit earned 13 points from 10 matches while Abahani remained second with 19 points from the same number of matches.
RESULTS
Sheikh Jamal DC 2 (Nasir 73, 90) v Ctg Abahani 1 (Sohel Mia 8)
Brothers Union Ltd 1 (Nasirul 37-og) v Abahani Ltd 0
-With New Age input
