Title aspirants Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra’s terrible run in the Bangladesh Premier League continued when they lost their third consecutive match of the league to hosts Chittagong Abahani by 1-2 goals in Chittagong on Monday. With the win, the port-city outfits have now seven points from three matches while Russell were still in search for their first point.
Teenage winger Mohammad Ibrahim gave the Independence Cup champions a third minute lead by firing the ball from the edge of the six-yard box after Russell goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud’s weak clearance.
Jamal Bhuiyan levelled the margin for Sheikh Russell in the 43rd minute with a tap in when a shabby clearance from Ctg Abahani goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana on a Paul Emile header came in his way inside the box.
But Haitian Leonel Saint Preux rubbed salt of Russell wounds by striking the winning goal from two minutes from time.
In the first match of the day, Rahmatganj MFS came from behind to hold reigning champions Sheikh Jamal DC to a 1-1 draw.
Haitian Wedson Anselme gave three-time champions the lead in the 30th minute but Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio snatched a point for Rahmatganj by scoring in the 58th minute.
After the draw, both the teams were now on five points after three matches.
Rahmatganj drew much attention after their surprising 2-0 win over title contenders Sheikh Russell KC and a creditable 1-1 draw with popular giants Mohammedan SC.
But the old Dhaka outfits could not produce another upset against the defending champions.
Jamal came to the match with their dazzling 5-3 win over promoted Uttar Baridhara and striker Wedson Anselme gave them a big boost as the Haitian returned from his homeland and joined the team after a one-month break on Monday morning.
Jamal dominated the proceedings from the very start of the match and came close to taking the lead in the very first minute but two successive efforts from Wedson and Landing Darboe were denied by the solid defensive work by Rahmatganj.
Wedson celebrated his return to the Jamal fold with a placing shot inside the box on the half-hour mark.
After conceding the goal, Rahmatganj pressed hard to level the margin and that paid off in the 58th minute when Zunapio raced past two defenders to dart into the box before sending the ball home over an advancing Jamal goalkeeper Mustaq.
RESULTs
Sheikh Jamal DC (Wedson 30) 1 v Rahamatganj MFS 1 (Zunapio 58)
***
Chittagong Abahani 2 (Ibrahim 3, Leonel 89) v Sheikh Russell 1 (Jamal)
-With New Age input
