Wheels falling off Rahmatganj
Shakhawat Hossain Rony scored twice as Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra heaped more misery on title-aspirants Rahmatganj MFS with a 2-0 win in their JB Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Rony, the national team striker who had only two goals to his name coming into the 13th match of the league, scored twice in space of three minutes of the second half as Sheikh Russel lifted themselves off the dropzone and into the 10th position with 11 points. Rahmatganj, on the other hand, lost more ground in their illusive title chase with a third straight defeat which leaves them in fourth position on 22 points, four points behind leaders Abahani who have played a match less.
The first half of the fixture at the soggy BNS pitch was a barren affair, with the Old Dhaka outfit making a bigger impression. They could have got the lead during the 32nd minute when Dawda Cessay beat advancing goalkeeper Ziaur Rahman before providing a square pass to his strike partner Siyo Zunapio but Sheikh Russel defender Ahmed Said Hasan made a brilliant last ditch clearance.
The charges of Shafiqul Islam Manik were more penetrative in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts in the 52nd minute. Forward Rummon Hossain ran past his marker before providing a through pass to Rony, who slid the ball home through the legs of Rahmatganj goalkeeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom.
The lanky striker doubled the lead three minutes later after Eleta Benjamin's back header slipped through Pritom's grasp, allowing him to tuck it into the empty net to forge a three-match winning streak.
SHEIKH JAMAL SNAP LOSING STREAK
Two-time defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club snapped a three-match losing streak with a 2-0 win against table-sweepers Uttar Baridhara Club in the second match of the day.
The Dhanmondi giants imposed themselves on the lightweights for the better part of the match, and yet failed to find a breakthrough before Emeka Darlington scored in the 84th minute with a towering header on a cross from substitute Mohammad Linkon as Baridhara goalkeeper Mohammad Ershad haplessly stared at the far post while lying on the ground with an injury.
The goalkeeper was soon replaced and minutes later, his deputy failed to block a powerful yet straight-forward attempt from Landing Darboe as the three-time champions wrapped up three crucial points.
The win took Sheikh Jamal to 22 points, level with Rahmatganj but ahead of them on goal difference while Baridhara stay rooted at the bottom with nine points from 13 matches.
Meanwhile, the two matches scheduled for today have been bodily shifted to tomorrow due to rain and unplayable conditions at the BNS.
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