Brothers notch second win

Brothers Union leaped up to fourth position in the Bangladesh Premier League table after beating promoted Chittagong Abahani 2-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The second successive victory after two consecutive defeats has brought the Oranges back in the title race as they have six points from four matches, six behind early pace-setters Sheikh Jamal DC.
The charges of Syed Nayeemuddin had come into this match on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Sheikh Russel KC, and took the game to the opponents right from the beginning with a very attacking brand of football. The two U-19 players Jewel Rana and Rubel Mia exploited the weakness of the opposition, who had curiously reverted from a 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2 formation. That allowed Jewel and Rubel the freedom to attack through the wings and the first goal came from one of those attacks in the 32nd minute when Jewel beat the opposition goalie Piaruzzaman with a feeble grounder after receiving a through-ball from the midfield.
Chittagong Abahani, who began this match on a single point, had a single mentionable effort on goal in the 25th minute when Masuk Mia's powerful header was tipped over brilliantly by Brothers 'keeper Sabuz Das.
Brothers unlocked the Chittagong Abahani defence quite a few more times in the first half, but had to be content with the one-goal advantage. There was little goalmouth action in the second half, but Brothers doubled the lead in the 83rd minute when Nigerian Victory Antoni toe-poked in a rebounder after Rubel's shot was parried his way by Piaruzzaman.
Chittagong Abahani reduced the margin four minutes later when substitute forward Safatur Rahman headed in a Javed Khan corner, but that was too little too late.