Brothers hold Sk Jamal

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club dropped their first points of the ongoing Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by an enterprising Brothers Union side at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The defending champions, who had won their first six matches of the campaign, struggled to impose their natural build-up play in the absence of inspirational midfielder Mamunul Islam. Brothers' backline stood resolute and put the defending champions under pressure on counter-attacks quite a few times.

Chances were few and far between in this match and the first notable attempt on goal came in the 63rd minute from Sheikh Jamal's Haitian forward Wedson Anselme but he was denied by an acrobatic save by Brothers's veteran goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee.

Five minutes later, a fine first-time volley by Brothers winger Shariful Islam failed to test Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Mazharul Islam Himel.

The game opened up towards the end as both sides looked for the winning goal and chances fell at either end. The best chance fell to Wedson in the first minute of the stoppage time from a quick counter-attack as substitute Taklish Ahmed teed up the ball for the Haitian in front of the box.

Wedson skipped past challenge of a defender and let loose a powerful diagonal shot which beat Biplob all ends up but came off the crossbar.

Brothers had an appeal for a penalty turned down right at the stroke of final whistle when Kester Akon's close-range header had hit the flailing hand of Sheikh Jamal defender Mohammad Linkon.

The referee paid no heed to the appeal and instead blew the long whistle as the Dhanmondi giants escaped with a hard-earned point.

Despite the draw, Sheikh Jamal's lead at the top of the table was extended to seven points as they moved to 19 points while Brothers remained in fifth position with 11 points.

MUKTIS, RAHMATGANJ SHARE THE SPOILS

Meanwhile, veteran striker Enamul Haque scored his seventh goal of the campaign, which was also the 2200th goal overall in the top-tier professional football league history, as Muktijoddha snapped a two-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Rahmatganj MFS in the second match of the day.

The former national striker nodded in a goal-bound header from Abbas Inusah to give the All Reds a deserved lead in the in the 67th minute of the match.

However, Rahgmatganj rescued a point through a slightly controversial goal in the dying moments from Mannaf Rabbi, who deposited the ball at the back of the net after Nurul Absar won the ball from a heavy challenge against Muktijoddha 'keeper Titumir Chowdhury.