MSC still can't crack Russel
Sheikh Russel KC kept their seven-and-a-half-year unbeaten record against Mohammedan intact in the professional football league as they played out a goalless draw against the Black and Whites in their Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Ever since their 2-1 defeat at the hands of the then football giant Mohammedan in May 2010, Sheikh Russel have never lost to the Motijheel outfit in the four subsequent editions, which includes the ongoing one. And despite having six straight victories over the superior opponent, Sheikh Russel were confined to two draws during the current edition.
Out of the last 21 league encounters between the two sides in the last 10 years, Sheikh Russel won eight matches, lost six and drew seven. Yesterday's stalemate though left Mohammedan and Sheikh Russel glued to their respective fifth and sixth positions on the 12-team table with 25 and 24 points from 18 matches.
In the match, Mohammedan played comparatively better than their opposition and created a few good scoring chances but failed to cash in on any of those. Mohammedan came close to breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Augustin Walson availed a lob from defender Nasirul Islam and attempted a nice drive from inside the box but Sheikh Russel goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee rescued the side at the cost of a corner. Later, Mohammedan defender Asaduzzaman Bablu wasted a golden opportunity to get his team ahead when he failed to connect to a Faisal Mahmud cross inside the six-yard box, with only goalkeeper Biplob to beat, in the dying moments of the first half.
After resumption, Mohammedan pressed hard for the breakthrough but despite having the better ball possession, they barely ever exposed the Sheikh Russel backline and therefore had to be content with their overall fourth draw in 18 matches.
In the day's second match, newcomers Saif Sporting Club returned to winning ways by inflicting a 2-0 defeat on Team BJMC. The victory raised Saif SC's points tally 34 from 18 matches whereas BJMC remain at seventh position on 17 points.
Saif SC, who were held to a goalless draw by Brothers Union and suffered a 3-0 loss to Mohammedan SC in their previous two matches, got their noses in front in the 16th minute when English striker Charlie Sheringham shot the ball into the far post for his third league goal after Matin Mia placed the ball to him with a header inside the danger zone.
Saif SC midfielder Mohammad Shadhin then wasted an opportunity to widen the margin when he floated the ball over the crosspiece with only the goalkeeper to beat in the 30th minute. Saif SC could have lost the lead though when defender Imran Hasan Rimon almost struck his own net while trying to clear a regular cross from a BJMC player at the start of the second half. Luckily for Saif SC, that shot bounced off the crossbar.
Man-of-the-match Jewel Rana probably enjoyed the outing as he sealed the win, and his league fifth goal, when he poked a well judged cross from Mohammad Ibrahim home from inside the box ten minutes from time.