Odoyin drives Sk Jamal
Nigerian forward Raphael Odoyin continued his rich vein of form in the Bangladesh Premier League as his brace led Sheikh Jamal Dhandmondi Club to a 3-1 win over Muktijoddha Sangsad at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Nurul Absar scored the other goal as the three-time champions reclaimed second spot with 40 points from 17 matches, two behind league leaders Chittagong Abahani.
Towhidul Alam scored the consolation goal for Muktijoddha Sangsad, who stayed at 11th position with 11 points from 17 outings.
Odoyin, who was ignored in the starting eleven in the first 10 league matches, showed his scoring ability with a four-goal haul against Farashganj SC when he was drafted in the starting eleven for the first time. Since then the Nigerian has scored in all six matches except for the match against Rahmatganj MFS.
The 24-year-old forward came into yesterday's match having scored a hattrick against Arambagh and he kept his scoring spree with a brace to enjoy his solo lead in the goal-scorers' chart with 13 goal including two hattricks.
“Actually I was not drafted in the playing eleven in the first leg because I could not do well but I am now trying to pay back the faith of the club,” Odoyin said.
“I am happy to get goals regularly. I want to be the top-scorer in the league and win the trophy for my club,” said Odoyin, who had scored 15 goals in 16 matches for a Nigerian Premier League club last season.
The prolific scorer put Sheikh Jamal ahead in the 20th minute with a simple tap-in from inside the six-yard box after Javed Khan's powerful drive came off the crossbar while Absar headed in a corner from Khan Mohammad Tara to double the lead in the 37th minute.
Muktijoddha Sangsad applied heavy pressure at the start of the second half, but it was Sheikh Jamal who scored again in the 53rd minute, with Odoyin finding the back of net with a left-footed placing shot.
However, Towhidul reduced the margin with a tap-in on the hour-mark following a fumble from Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Samiul Hasan.
Muktijoddha created a few more chances but forwards Towhidul and Malagan Ugochwu wasted those as Sheikh Jamal notched their second victory of the league against the same opposition.
Meanwhile, Brothers Union held Saif SC to a goalless draw in the second match of the day to raise their tally to 15 points as Saif SC remained in fourth position with 31 points.
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