Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra continued their winning run in the Bangladesh Premier League with a narrow 1-0 win over fallen giants Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. In the other match of the day at the same venue, Brothers Union tasted their first win of the league by defeating Farashganj Sporting Club 3-1. Defender Rezaul Karim scored the all important goal to give Russell their second successive victory.
Mohammedan, who conceded their first defeat in three matches, dominated throughout the game but lost the game due to lack of good finishing.
Russell’s Nigerian forward Kingsley Chigozie wasted the first real chance at the stroke of the opening half.
Cameroonian Paul Emile collected the ball from almost halfway line and skipped past two defenders before providing it to Kingsley, whose effort went straight to the Mohammedan keeper Mohammad Nehal.
Reza, the veteran defender, put Russell ahead in the 61st minute when the former national defender headed home past Nehal following a corner of winger Zahid Hossain.
Russell could have doubled the lead eight minutes later when Atiqur Rahman Meshu saw his free-kick from 20 yards out hit the woodwork.
Mohammedan lost a glorious opportunity to put the margin level when their Guinean striker Ismail Bangoura’s close-range shot was superbly blocked by keeper Mamun Khan.
The victory took Russell in fourth position of the points table with six points from two matches while Mohammedan also earned the same number of points but played one match more.
Elsewhere, Brothers, who had only one point before, took Farashganj on in the first match of the day.
The Gopibagh outfit didn’t give any room to their opponent to celebrate their first win in the league.
After a barren first half, Brothers took only five minutes to take the lead.
Adams Jankasa, their Nigerian forward headed home on a free-kick before Haitian Augustin Walson doubled the lead five minutes later.
Walson received a lobbed pass from Jankasa and placed home past Farashganj keeper Sujan Chowdhury.
Farashganj pulled one goal back in the 79th minute through their Nigerian midfielder Akinyele Peter, who headed past Biplob following a cross from Shahinur Rahman.
Jankasa netted his second of the day to seal the victory six minutes later when the Nigerian sent the ball into the back of the net after a pass from Walson.
Brothers earned four points to be placed sixth in the points table from three matches while Farashganj are yet to open their account after two matches.
RESULTS
Sheikh Russell KC 1 (Rezaul 61) v Mohammedan SC 0
Brothers Union 3 (Adams 50, 85, Welson 55) v Farashganj SC 1 (Akinyele 79)
-With New Age input
