Defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club came closer to retain the Bangladesh Premier League title after a thrilling 4-3 win over Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday. In the day’s second match on a soggy surface of the BNS, Abahani Limited played out a goalless draw with Brothers Union. Win the win, Jamal have now 39 points from 16 matches. That means they now need just seven points from their last four matches against Brothers, Mohammedan, Muktijoddha and Abahani to retain the title.
Defender Linkon scored the dramatic winner in the stoppage time after Jamal’s foreign striking triumvirate — Gambian Landing Darboe, Nigerian Emeka Darlington and Haitian Wedson Anselm—scored one goal apiece.
Winger Jahid Hossain, Nigerian forward Kingsley Chigozi and Bosnian marksman Damir Ibric netted one each for Russell.
Jamal took the lead in the 12th minute as their Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe’s placing shot from outside the box found the back of the net after a fine back-pass from Emeka.
Russell leveled the margin in the 24th minute when Mithun Chowdhury provided a neat through to Zahid, who beat offside-trap before placing the ball calmly past Jamal keeper Shahidul Alalm.
Emeka put Jamal ahead again in the 39th minute with a fine header following a Wedson cross.
Kingsley Chigozi restored the parity two minutes later after Jean Jules Ikanga headed on a Wali Faisal’s free-kick that came into the six-yard box and Chigozi made no mistake to head the ball home.
Damir Ibric, the Bosnian forward made his debut memorable with a beautiful strike to give Russell a crucial lead in the 85th minute when the Bosnian midfielder’s powerful side-volley from outside the six-yard box went into the back of the net.
But the lead was cancelled out a minute before the stipulated time when Wedson tasted his 16th goal in the league as the Haitian chipped the ball over the keeper from outside the box after a mix-up between Russell defender Topu Barman and keeper Mamun Khan.
When the match seemed to finish with a draw, Linkon scored the all important winner with a placing shot after a nice build-up between Wedson and Landing.
Elsewhere, both Abahani and Brothers failed to play their natural game in a wet outfield after a heavy downpour in the last few days.
Abahani moved to the second spot with 31 points from 16 matches, eight points behind of league leaders Jamal while Brothers moved to fourth with 29 points from same number of outings.
RESULTs
Sheikh Jamal DC 4 (Landing 12, Emeka 39, Wedson 90, Linkon 90+) v Sheikh Russell KC 3 (Zahid 24, Kingsley 55, Damir 85); Abahani Limited 0 v Brothers Union 0
-With New Age input
