The newly appointed coach of Sheikh Russell KC, Dragan Gjukanovic, failed to make a winning start as they were held by Chittagong Abahani 1-1 in his first match in charge in the Bangladesh Premier League on Monday. Russell, who won the corresponding fixture in the first phase by 2-1 goals, needed a penalty, converted by Haitian forward Pascal Millien, in the 66th minute to equalise the margin after Guinean midfielder Mohammed Conte put Chittagong Abahani ahead eight minutes
into the second half.
The draw made life harder for struggling Russell who sacked coach Maruful Haque ignominiously earlier this week only to see the team slip to fourth position in the points table with 16 points from 11 matches.
The outcome handed Chittagong Abahani a priceless point as they seek to avoid relegation having collected only six points to stay ninth in the 10-team league.
Pascal wasted the first real chance in the very fifth minute when he failed to place a defence-splitting through pass from Mithun Chowdhury into the net when goalkeeper Salim Ullah moved forward to clear the ball.
Chittagong Abahani keeper Salim produced a superb save in the 10th minute as he punched away a curling free-kick by Serbian midfielder Miroslav Savanovic.
In the 19th minute, Mithun failed to put his side ahead as his shot hit the side bar.
Guinean midfielder Mohammed Conte put the visitors ahead from an unmarked position as he placed home a Ugandan defender Dumba Michael’s free-kick.
But the visitors failed to hold on to the lead as the defending champions restored parity in the 66th minute from a penalty after Pascal’s shot from outside the box hit Guinean defender Camara Uba’s hand.
Dragan Gjukanovic, the Montenegrin coach of Russell, however was very much hopeful with the team though his side lost two points.
‘I saw my team play the match first time and it was clear that Sheikh Russell are a big team but there are many rooms to develop the game,’ he said. ‘In a very short time it’s not possible to unite the team but I will bring back their confidence as soon as possible.’
RESULT
Sheikh Russell 1 ( Pascal Millien 66p) v Chittagong Abahani 1 (Mohammed Conte 53)
-With New Age input
