Both Mohammedan Sporting Club and Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra won their respective matches of the Bangladesh Premier League to reduce the gap with table toppers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club on Sunday. Mohammedan beat Feni Soccer Club 2-1 in the first match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium while Russell defeated Team BJMC by the identical margin at the same venue in the other match of the day.
Cameroonian midfielder Belinga Amabara and Guinean Ismail Bangoura scored a goal each for the Black and White outfit while substitute Sohel Miah pulled one goal back for Feni Soccer.
Russell, on the other hand, returned to winning ways after their two consecutive defeats. Cameroonian midfielder Jean Jules Ikanga and Bosnian forward Damir Ibric struck two late goals for the winners before Mehedi Hasan Topu pulled one goal back for BJMC.
With the win, Mohammedan remained on second place with 34 points from 17 matches while Russell ascended to the third position with 32 points from 16 matches while league leaders Jamal have 42 points from 17 games.
Both Feni Soccer and Team BJMC remained on their previous standings of seventh and ninth with 15 and 12 points respectively after playing 16 matches each.
Cameroonian Belinga Amabara put Mohammedan ahead in the 11th minute when Feni keeper Ahsan Habib Bipu blocked a powerful shot from Ismail Bangoura but Belinga was there to send the ball home calmly.
Forward Sohel Miah came off the bench to level the margin in the 51st minute as the young striker chipped over the Mohammedan keeper from the top of the box following a corner of Jatta Mustapha.
Feni were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute when midfielder Sharan Hawlader received a straight red card after he had committed a rough tackle on Mobarak Hossain.
Mohammedan just
had to wait two minutes before taking the lead when Guinean forward Ismail Bangoura struck the winner as the in-form forward headed home on a cross of Jewel Rana from right flank.
Substitute forward Abdullah Al Mamun tried hard to level the margin and he saw one of his efforts was initially saved by Mohammedan keeper Rana before his rebounder was cleared off the line by Mintu Sheikh.
While in the day’s second match, Russell had to wait till the 71st minute to take lead against Team BJMC.
Cameroonian midfielder Jean Jules Ikanga converted from the spot kick after BJMC keeper Arifuzzaman Hemel brought Nigerian forward Kingsley Chigozi down inside the box.
Ibric doubled the lead four minutes later with a curling strike from the left corner of the box that found the back of the net before substitute forward Topu reduced the margin in the 85th minute.
RESULTs
Mohammedan SC 2 (Amabara 11, Bangoura 84) v Feni Soccer Club 1 (Sohel Mia 51);
Sheikh Russell KC 2 (Ikanga 71, Ibric 75) v Team BJMC 1 (Mehedi Hasan Topu 85).
-With New Age input