Chattogram Abahani go top

Chattogram Abahani climbed to the top of the Bangladesh Premier League table with a 2-0 win against visitors Sheikh Russel KC at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

With seven points from four matches, the port city side joined leaders Bashundhara Kings, Abahani and Saif SC, all of whom however played three matches each. Former champions Sheikh Russel stayed in 10th position with consecutive defeats following two draws in their four matches.

The charges of Maruful Haque, who came into the match on the back of a 2-2 away draw against Saif SC, dominated the visitors and went close to breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute but Brazilian forward Nixon Rocha Brizolara saw his tap-in cleared from the goalline by Alison Udoka. Nixon made amends though two minutes later with a powerful shot from the top of the box after Rakib Hossain snatched the ball from a Sheikh Russel player.

Chattogram Abahani squandered a chance to double the lead when Shakwahat Hossain Rony fired wide of target in the 84th minute before substitute Mannaf Rabbi placed a cross from home in the stoppage time. 

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, a brace from Ballo Famoussa helped Sheikh Jamal return to winning ways with 4-1 win against Arambagh KS. 

Sheikh Jamal, who lost 2-1 against Mohammedan in their previous match, took the lead in the 21st minute when Famoussa headed in a Zahid Hossain cross but the lead lasted only 14 minutes as Eleta Kingsley who tapped home a cross from Egyptian Mostafa Mahmoud.

Sheikh Jamal restored the lead one minute before the break, with Famoussa sending a Solomon King lob over goalkeeper Rakibul Hasan from the edge of six-yard box.

King made it 3-1 in the 59th minute with a close-range header that was initially parried by goalkeeper Rakibul but it flipped into the net with a deflection from an Arambagh defender.

Gambian forward Omar Jobe sealed the victory by firing home in the 75th minute as Sheikh Jamal climbed to second position with six points from three matches.

In the second match at BNS, promoted Uttar Baridhara Club earned their first point in the league after a 1-1 draw against Brothers Union.

In the fast-paced game, both sides displayed spirited show. After an equally fought first-half, Uttar Baridhara took a deserved lead in the 48th minute when Simon Ezeodika played a long ball for right-back Arif Hossain, who darted into the box by dancing past a defender and goalkeeper and placing the ball home.

Baridhara could have made the result safe in the 83rd minute but Arif drove wide of the open net. Brothers came close to levelling the margin in the 89th minute but Nkowcha Kingsley was denied by the woodwork.

Kingsley, however, scored the equaliser in the stoppage time by nodding home a corner from Otabek to give Brothers their third draw in four matches.