Ctg Abahani on top

Sheikh Russel KC's woeful losing streak in the JB Bangladesh Premier League continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chittagong Abahani at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

With three defeats in a row, former champions Sheikh Russel KC are left at the bottom while Chittagong Abahani, with their second successive win, tops of the 12-team table with seven points from three outings, two ahead of joint second-placed Sheikh Jamal DC and Rahmatganj MFS.  

Sheikh Russel lifted the internal ban on Ethiopian Fikru Teferra in an effort enhance their performance after defeats against Uttar Baridhara and Rahmatganj but all for nought as instead, Independence Cup champions, Ctg Abahani, went ahead in the third minute with a strike from teenage winger Mohammad Ibrahim, who made use of a weak clearance from Sheikh Russel goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud Liton.

Jamal Bhuiyan then leveled the margin for Sheikh Russel in the 43rd minute when a shabby clearance from Ctg Abahani goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana on a Paul Emile header came his way inside the box.

Ultimately however, Haitian Leonel Saint Preux struck the winning goal for big-spender Chittagong Abahani two minutes from time.

RAHMATGANJ VS SHEIKH JAMAL

Earlier in the day, minnows Rahmatganj MFS upheld their unbeaten streak as held defending champions Sheikh Jamal DC 1-1.

Rahmatganj's Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio canceled out a 30th minute strike from Haitian Wedson Anselme in the 58th minute, making sure his side equals Sheikh Jamal's five points each from three outings.

Though Rahmatganj drew attention with their surprising 2-0 win over title contenders Sheikh Russel KC and commendable 1-1 draw with popular Mohammedan SC, the Old Dhaka outfit failed to produce an upset this time but displayed an admirable performance.

Before the start of the game, Sheikh Jamal had the upper hand considering their stellar display against promoted Uttar Baridhara Club in which they struck five goals, and how the inclusion of striker Wedson Anselme sharpened their attacking third.

And so, Sheikh Jamal were close to taking the lead in the very first minute but two successive efforts from Wedson and Landing Darboe respectively were denied by solid defense.

Rahmatganj then nearly stole the lead during the ninth minute when Zunapio drove a shot narrowly wide off the far post before Wedson finally broke the deadlock for Sheikh Jamal with a well placed shot from inside the box on the half-hour mark.

Wedson wasted a scoring chance from very close range, a mistake which Sheikh Jamal were then made to pay dearly for in the very next minute.

Availing a long ball, Zunapio raced past two defenders, darting into the box before sending a left footer over advancing goalkeeper Mustaq to level the margin in the 58th minute. Rahmatganj then managed to hold the stalemate for the rest of the duration.