Sk Russel beat BJMC

Sheikh Russel defender Uttam Kumar Banik (L) skips the challenge of Team BJMC forward Abdur Rasheed Ajagoun during their last match of the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Sheikh Russel KC ended their Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League their campaign on a winning note when they handed a 3-2 defeat to newcomers Team BJMC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Striker Anwar Hossain struck a brace while winger Mohammad Yousuf scored the other for Sheikh Russel who finished fifth in the 11-team table with 32 points from 20 matches, just one point behind fourth-placed BJMC who finished with 33 points.
By becoming runners-up in the season's curtain-raising Federation Cup in their first appearance at top-level football after a 27-year gap, Team BJMC sent a clear message to other title aspirants that they were one of title contenders. And they started the league in similar vein handing a defeat to holders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club but failed to keep the momentum and gradually went out of the title race and finally had to be content with a fourth finish.
BJMC could have toppled third-placed Mohammedan had they only held Sheikh Russel in their last match, but the Federation Cup runners-up side failed to do so as they lost both legs of the league against Sheikh Russel.
“We put on good performance in the league and it will be remembered by people for long. We could have even finished second or third in the table for the way we performed but we faced a lot of challenges,” said BJMC coach Jakaria Babu.
BJMC manager and BFF vice president Arif Khan Joy categorically blamed the referees for poor officiating in the league.
“We could have taken the title race down to the wire but for could some poor refereeing and as a BFF official I believe the standard of refereeing must improve,” said Joy.
“Compared to the last season's result, finishing in fifth position is disappointing result but except the points-table I am happy with the performance the players put on throughout the league,” said Sheikh Russel coach Maruful Haque adding that their foreign strikers were not in form throughout the league and that was one of reasons behind their poor results this season.
Back to the game, and BJMC started the sprightlier as Ghanaian striker Ismael Bangoura and Nigerian Ajagun Abdul Rasheed came close to scoring inside the first 15 minutes, but it was Sheikh Russel who took the lead in the 18th minute through Anwar Hossain while three minutes later Mohammad Yousuf tapped in an Alamu Bukola pass to make it 2-0.
BJMC hit back two minutes before the breather when Rasheed tapped in a cross from Bangoura but Anwar made it 3-1 in the 82nd minute before Bangoura found the back of the Sheikh Russel net with a freekick from the edge of the box six minutes from time.
Bangoura could not help his side from suffering a defeat in their last match but he surely left the stage with head held high as he finished top-scorer with 17 strikes, four ahead of joint second highest-scorers Lucky Paul of Abahani, Sunday Chizoba of Muktijoddha Sangsad and Siyo Zunapio of relegated Farashganj SC.