First leg ends
Saif Sporting Club consolidated fourth position in the Bangladesh Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Rahmatganj while Sheikh Russel KC moved up to sixth with a 2-1 win over Arambagh as the first leg of matches of the Bangladesh Premier League was wrapped up yesterday.
A first-half strike from Jewel Rana was enough for Saif SC to break their string of draws in a single-goal win over Rahmatganj at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Since losing to holders Abahani in their opener, promoted Saif SC had a brilliant run as they notched up five successive victories including a massive 5-0 win over Brothers and breathed on the necks of title contenders.
But they had suddenly lost their way and were subject to four successive draws before returning to winning ways yesterday.
Jewel scored the decisive goal in the 19th minute with a left-footed volley after Colombian striker Hember Valencia teed up the ball for the diminutive winger.
Saif came close to doubling the lead but Hemanta Vincent Biswas failed to connect to a cross from Shakil Ahmed.
With their sixth win in 11 matches, Saif SC raised their tally to 22 points and finished the first leg only four points behind leaders Chittagong Abahani and two behind joint second-placed Sheikh Jamal and Dhaka Abahani. Rahmatganj, with four defeats, remained at eighth position with 11 points.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Russel KC leapfrogged Team BJMC into sixth position and ended the leg with 16 points. Fazle Rabbi opened the scoring for Sheikh Russel in the 39th minute while Mohammad Julfiker made it 2-0 in the 67th minute. Jean Jules Ikanga reduced the margin for Arambagh from the spot but Sheikh Russel held on to one-goal lead to notch an important victory.
Comments