Farashganj SC struck the post twice and also scored an own goal to allow Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to return to winning ways in the Grameenphone Bangladesh League after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the star-studded side at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.
It could hardly have been a better start for the new coach Packeer Ali in his first match in charge.
“A win was badly needed to boost up the morale of the players and we got exactly that. I think they are now free of pressure and will play accordingly in the coming days,” said Sheikh Jamal coach Packeer after the match.
Ali was also satisfied with the performance as the players followed his instructions.
Smarting from a 1-0 defeat to Arambagh KS, Sheikh Jamal looked purposeless until off-colour striker Zahid Hasan Emily headed a Mishu cross straight to goalkeeper Sujan Chowdhury on the half-hour mark.
Abdul Baten Komol then also side-volleyed a low Emily cross straight into the opponent goalkeeper and that was that for Sheikh Jamal before Farashganj took over the midfield.
Farashganj nearly scored the opener but Moloy narrowly failed to connect a Moses header inside the six-yard box before Kalu Johnson rattled the bar in the 45th minute.
Captain Khokon Das and Sohel Rana played a one-two to enter the box on the right before Khokon chipped the ball in for Kalu, who saw his header bounce back after hitting the bar.
Farashganj once again came close to taking the lead in stoppage time of the first half but were deprived as Adami Moses hit the woodwork from a free kick outside the box.
After the resumption, Sheikh Jamal looked better in terms of ball possession and launched attacks through two flanks that kept the opponent defenders under pressure.
Three minutes into the second half, right-back Shamal Ahmed Rony unfortunately put the ball past his own goalkeeper, as he attempted to clear a corner kick. And the defender also gifted Sheikh Jamal their second goal after failing to properly mark winger Shakil Ahmed as Enamul played a through-pass on the right and the elder brother of Emily drove a grounder past goalkeeper Sujan.
Sheikh Jamal were then deprived from a third when an attempt from midfielder Abdul Baten Komol came back off the bar in the 76th minute.
“The luck was not with us and the result could have been different had we not conceded an own goal,” said Farashganj coach Kamal Babu.
With two wins in five matches, Sheikh Jamal leapfrogged to fourth position from eighth place with eight points while Farashganj SC are in seventh with six points from five games.
