Arambagh hold Rahmatganj
Lightweights-turned- contenders Rahmatganj MFS missed an opportunity to go to the top of the JB Bangladesh Premier League as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Arambagh KS at Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium yesterday.
Rahmatganj, the joint leaders till the fourth round, however still had something to cheer about at the end of their fifth match as the Old Dhaka outfit remain unbeaten. They are currently in second position, alongside holders Sheikh Jamal and Muktijoddha Sangsad with nine points each, two points behind leaders Chittagong Abahani.
Meanwhile, Arambagh leapfrogged to sixth with six points from five matches.
Amid scorching heat and high humidity, players from both sides struggled to keep their tempo. The first half of the match belonged to Arambagah, while Rahmatganj dominated the second half to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Rahmatganj made a brilliant start as they took the lead in the fourth minute through Congolese Siyo Zunapio, who drove a grounded shot into the net after Shoel Mia headed the ball down. That was his fourth goal and it took him to level with the league's top-scorer, Muktijoddha Sangsad's Ahmed Kolo Musa.
Despite the brilliant start, their lead only lasted nine minutes as Arambagh found an equaliser through Sajidur Rahman Sajid. Cameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick released an inch-perfect long ball from his own half to find Sajid, who beat goalkeeper Samiul Islam Masum with a left-footed shot in the 13th minute.
Nigerian striker Kester Akon came close to scoring, but his curled free-kick was topped over nicely by Masum. However, Masum conceded as Shariful Islam Sajib headed from close range following a corner from Abdullah in the 21st minute.
After resumption, Rahmatganj fired on all cylinders to keep a defensive Arambagh on their toes before Dawda Cessey and Mehbub Hasan Nayan played a one-two and broke through before the latter equalized the 64th minute.
With the match locked at 2-2, both sides played cautiously and seemed content to take one point instead of risking it and possibly losing all three points.
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