Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra closed the gap on league leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to four points with an emphatic 5-1 win over Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra in their Bangladesh Premier League match on Saturday. In the other match of the day, Abahani Limited returned to the winning way with a convincing 3-1 win over Team BJMC in the day’s second match.Muktijoddha continued their struggle in the second phase, remaining winless in their last four matches that took plummeted them to sixth place with 21 points from 14 matches.
Right-winger Zahid Hossain was the star of the show for Russell by scoring a stunning solo goal besides setting up three more for his team-mates.
Muktijoddha took the lead in the eighth minute, thanks to their in-from captain Enamul Haque, who scored his 10th goal of the league after the national striker placed the ball into the near post off a pass from Senegalese forward Camara Sarba.
Zahid Hasan Ameli had the chance to bring the score line level with a penalty two minutes later but his spot kick went wide.
Muktijoddha keeper Titumir Chowdhury Titu, who was responsible for the first penalty brining Zahid Hasan down in the danger zone, committed the same blunder in the 17th minute by bringing down the same player and this time Cameroonian midfielder Jean Jules Ikanga made no mistake to make it 1-1.
Russell took the lead in the 22nd minute when their Cameroonian striker Paul Emile placed the ball into the far post after snatching the ball from Muktijoddha defender Anisul Islam Sweet.
Zahid made it 3-1 in the 56th minute as the national winger glided past four Muktoijoddha players before placing the ball home coolly.
Emile bagged his second of the day in the 61st minute after receiving a neat square pass from Zahid from the right-flank.
Substitute forward Rummon Hossain completed the rout in the 68th minute with a superb volley from the six-yard box fed by Zahid.
After the win, Russell moved to second position of the table with 29 points from 13 matches while Jamal are leading the table with 33 points playing one more game.
In the second match, Abahani’s Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba scored a brace while right back Nasirul Islam Nasir added the other as BJMC’s Nigerian forward Eleta Kingsley pulled one goal back.
Sunday, who scored seven goals in four matches after he joined the team for the second leg, put his side ahead with a four-minute strike before he doubled the lead in the 33rd minute.
BJMC reduced the margin in the 55th minute when Kingsley scored from a free-kick before Nasir made it 3-1 just five minutes later.
With the win, Abahani moved to third position with 27 points from 14 matches, six points behind leaders Sheikh Jamal while BJMC remained in seventh place with 12 points from same number of outings.
-With New Age input
