Grameenphone Bangladesh League 2010
Sheikh Jamal dominate in draw
Three-time champions Abahani survived scares throughout the game to play out a goalless draw against newcomers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the inaugural match of this season’s Bangladesh League at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.
Star-studded Sheikh Jamal, without their Serbian coach Zoran Kraljevic, kept holders Abahani at bay from the very beginning by opening up Sky Blues’ backline several times. But unfortunately, their strikers could not avail any of those chances and had to be content with a single point.
It was expected that the two sides would fight neck and neck in their first meeting after their exciting Federation Cup final where Abahani came from behind twice to beat Sheikh Jamal 5-3, but it was almost a one-sided affair in term of creating opportunities.
Federation Cup champions Abahani were lucky not to lose all three points to Sheikh Jamal, who are yet to conquer the popular Sky Blue outfit in three matches they have played so far, and there would have been no surprise if the defending champions suffered a huge defeat in the Dhanmondi derby.
Striker Towhidul Alam Sabuj squandered at least three easy chances while wingers Zahid Hossain, Atiqur Rahman Mishu and striker Zahid Hasan Emily also joined the rehearsal of missed chances in front of some 2000 spectators at the Kamalapur venue.
On the other hand, Abahani could only produce a couple of chances as the Sheikh Jamal backline (marshaled by Serbian Dragan) of Rezaul Karim, Mohammad Sujan and Nasiruddin built up a sold defense thwarting attempts outside the danger zone.
Abahani’s defence looked brittle in both left and right positions with Mishu and Zahid constantly creating chances and even the holders were trailing in terms of ball possession.
Sheikh Jamal came within a whisker of a goal in the fifth minute when Enamul whipped in a cross from right for Sabuj, who was late to connect the cross and the opening chance went by. The same striker could not beat Abahani goalkeeper Zia in a one-on-one situation in the 22nd minute after sending the ball straight to the hands.
Abahani tried to regroup as they went for the opener in the 24th minute only to be blocked by goalkeeper Aminul Haque, who was hardly tested under the post.
After resumption, both side looked to break the deadlock and initially Abahani controlled the midfield but soon lost it as Sabuj set unmarked Mishu inside the danger zone but the tall winger took enough time to spoil the chance as defender Samad Yousuf intervened timely to rescue Abahani.
The Sky Blues could have taken a lead in the 58th minute had Awudu Ibrahim not hurried to send a low cross from Mehdi Hasan Ujjal while Emily, availing a backpass from Mamunul, drove the shot narrowly wide of the crossbar in 64th minute.
Abahani found a real scoring chance in the 65th minute but Ujjal saw his powerful shot parried by goalkeeper Aminul. With 15 minutes remaining, Sheikh Jamal produced three more chances, but Zahid, Emily and Sabuj failed to beat Abahani goalkeeper Zia.
Before the opening match of the fourth edition, the logo was unveiled with Grameenphone sponsoring the prestigious league for the first time after Citycell withdrew their three-year sponsorship in the middle of the second year.
TEAMS
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club: Aleksandar Sujdovic (Emily), Dragan Perisic, Sujan, Aminul Haque, Nasir (Ariful Islam), Rezaul Karim (Wali Faisal), Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mamunul Islam, Zahid Hossain, Towhidul Alam Sabuj and Enamul Haq.
Abahani: Ziaur Rahman, Ibnul Siraji, Linkon, Samad Yousuf, Mamun Mia, Awudu Ibrahim, Twun Frank, Yusuf Aminu, Choumrin Rakhine (Imtiaz Sultan Jitu), Pranotosh Kumar (Habibur Rahman Shohag) and Mehdi Hasan Ujjal (Alfaz Ahmed).
Yellow cards: Sujan, Enamul, Mishu (Sheikh Jamal), Mamun Mia (Abahani)
Referee: Azad Rahman.
