Idris upsets Russel

Alfaz (R) joins the celebration as Russel captain Youness embraces an ecstatic Mobarak (No. 15) after his first goal against Rahmatganj during their Citycell B. League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday (left).Photo: STAR

Idris Kasirye inspired giant-killers Rahmatganj to come from two goals down and snatch a valuable point from Sheikh Russel on the final day of the Citycell B. League's first leg yesterday.
Ugandan striker Idris struck either side of the break as Rahmatganj, who had defeated the top two teams -- Abahani and Mohammedan, held the title contenders 2-2 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The draw was a huge blow for Wajed Gazi's Russel, who looked set to put more pressure on league leaders and defending champions Abahani at the end of the first leg with a 2-0 lead by the 18th minute with goals from Mobarak and captain Touati Youness.
But they threw away the advantage and ended fourth in the table instead of finishing second and within two points of Abahani, who sit on top with 22 points. Abahani, who rested during the final round, face Farashganj in the first match of the return leg tomorrow.
Russel, on 18, are trailing Mohammedan and Brothers by one point.
Chittagong Mohammedan remained fifth after a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Muktijoddha Sangsad at home, thanks to goals by Akbar Hossain Ridon and Guinean forward Raphael Sagno.
Ridon put the local side ahead after 39 minutes at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong while Raphael's fourth league goal one minute from time handed second-from bottom Muktijoddha their eighth loss in 10 outings.
Last year's bottom-table Rahmatganj, who are sixth with 14 points, stared at their second consecutive loss when the sloppy backline conceded early goals.
Both Youness and Mobarak were left unmarked inside the area when Russel fullback Hasan crossed the ball during an overlap. It was Mobarak who received the ball without any challenge and coolly placed at the far post for his first league goal in the ninth minute.
The Rahmatganj back four was again caught napping nine minutes later when Moroccan striker Youness headed a right-side cross by Monwar and the ball went in off the sidebar despite goalkeeper Ali managed to put fingers to it.
It would have been over for Rahmatganj in the 22nd minute but Mobarak rattled the crossbar after a Hasan lob, sparking a counter attack that reduced the arrears two minutes later.
The nimble-footed forward Hirok Joarder chipped a long ball for his partner Idris, who snatched possession from Moroccan defender Bourdip and went round the keeper to place in an open goal.
Coming back to the Russel goal after a long break, Titu showed some form when he parried Hirok's powerful shot before making a diving save on Idris's close-range effort before the break.
Although the livelier Rahmatganj created most of the chances later on, Russel got a fine chance eight minutes after resumption when Igir Mohamed sent Mobarak racing down the right flank and the winger found Alfaz inside the penalty area. But veteran Alfaz chipped the ball wide of an outrushing Ali.
Idris then struck a left-footer superbly for the equaliser in the 56th minute. The Ugandan, who joined Alfaz and Abahani's Nigerian midfielder Emeka atop the scorers' list with seven goals, picked up a through from Ripon on the edge of the area and drove the ball into the roof of the net, giving no chance to Titu, who was slightly out of his line.
Idris and Hirok both kept the rival goal under pressure with two long-range efforts that missed the mark narrowly as Russel pressed hard in search of a winner that never materialised.
TOP SCORERS
7 goals: Alfaz (Russel), Emeka (Abahani), Idris (Rahmatganj)
6 goals: Bukola (Mohammedan), Emily (Abahani)
5 goals: Robin (Mohammedan), Youness (Russel)
4 goals: Enamul (Farashganj), Divine (Brothers), Raphael (Ctg Mohammedan), Sakhawat Rony (Ctg Abahani)
3 goals: Mehdi (Khulna Abahani), Zahid (Brothers), Nasir (Mohammedan), Mithun (Ctg Abahani), Nicodemus (Arambagh)
2 goals: Hazem (Mohammedan), Oniya, Manju, Tapu (Brothers), Towhidul, Ridon (Ctg Mohammedan), Kanchan (Muktijoddha), Ibrahim (Abahani), Nayan (Arambagh), Francis (Rahmatganj), Henry Quae (Brothers)
1 goal: Zakir, Felix (Rahmatganj), Abul, Mamun, Zahed, Tipu (Abahani), Arman Aziz, Sharif, Faisal (Mohammedan), Kabir, Yusuf, Johnson, Emeka (Farashganj), Manjurul, Tariqul, Ripon (Khulna Abahani), Camara (Ctg Mohammedan), Shuvra, Munna, Liton (Brothers), Biddyut, Walid (Muktijoddha), Imrul, Sirajul, Monu, Moudud (Arambagh), Monwar, Said, Aminul, Igir, Bulbul, Mobarak (Russel)
Own goal: Mostafa Kaba (Arambagh v Ctg Abahani)