Russel cross BU hurdle

Sheikh Russel KC edged one step closer to winning their third silverware of the season when they came from one goal down to beat Brothers Union 2-1 in the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Sheikh Russel's nippy winger Zahid Hossain scored the winning goal in the 47th minute after his strike partner Zahid Hasan Emily, the scorer of the winning goal in the Independence Cup final, had cancelled out an early strike from Brothers Union's Sifat Yousuf.
The win took Sheikh Russel to the top of the table with 29 points from 13 matches, one ahead of Abahani, who have the chance of regaining the lead when they take on archrivals Mohammedan in their 14th league match of the season.
In their three remaining matches, Sheikh Russel will take on Sheikh Jamal DC, Feni Soccer Club and Arambagh KS, and wins in all those matches will see them win their first domestic league title in the club's history, regardless of what Abahani do in their matches.
Sheikh Russel's victory yesterday followed a similar pattern as they staged comebacks in a number of matches this season. Even with their most prolific striker Sony Norde sitting out due to injury, the Independence Cup champions managed to eke out a win thanks to the finishing touches of the two Zahids on chances created by influential midfielder Mamunul Islam.
Even before Sheikh Russel could take control of the midfield, Brothers took the lead in the 20th minute when young striker Sifat took a placing shot from outside the box after receiving a square pass from Nigerian defender Adam Jankasa.
Brothers were playing a high line of defence which made them vulnerable at the back and Sheikh Russel just waited to pounce on their defensive frailties. The Emily-Mamunul combination, which gave Sheikh Russel the winning goal in the Independence Cup final, came to the rescue in the 35th minute. Mamunul's floating corner was misjudged by Brothers goalkeeper Sobuj Das Roghu and Emily was at hand to head it in.
Zahid then gave Sheikh Russel the lead two minutes after the restart when he received a free kick from Mamunul before darting past two defenders into the box and firing it in to the back of the net.
Brothers upped the attack in search of an equaliser, and threatened into the opposition box a number of times towards the end, but Sheikh Russel's defence stood firm to snatch three valuable points.