Ibrahim double drives Kings

Holders Bashundhara Kings survived a second-half scare to return to winning way in the Bangladesh Premier League following a 3-2 win over Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

With the second win in three outings, Kings joined Saif SC on top of the table with seven points while Brothers Union tasted their first defeat in third match to slip to 10th position with two points.

The battle between giants Kings and minnows Brothers was anticipated to be a mouth-watering affair, especially after Brothers' successive draws against heavyweights Abahani and Sheikh Russel and Kings' tame draw against Bangladesh Police. However, the defending champions made the match their own by taking a 3-0 lead before Brothers showed character in the last 25 minutes to score two goals.

Oscar Bruzon brought three changes in the playing eleven and the inclusion of fit-again Biplu Ahmed and experienced Alamgir Kabir Rana worked well in the midfield. The early pressure almost paid off, but Brothers goalkeeper Jafar Sardar brilliantly denied Towhidul Alam Sabuz in the 14th minute. However, The Oranges conceded the lead three minutes later when Mohammad Ibrahim ran down the left and drove home a low shot past the opposition keeper.

Ibrahim doubled the lead a minute before the break with another darting run down the left and a drive home following a nutmeg before Daniel Colindres made it 3-0 with a curling effort from the top of the box two minutes into the second half.

Bashundhara kept creating chances but frustratingly failed to take those home and Brothers pulled one goal back in the 64th minute when Nkowcha Kingsley chested down a cross from Mobarak Hossian inside the box before volleying home.

Brothers further reduced the margin in the 76th minute through a header from Arup Kumar Baidya, giving some anxious moments to the Kings, who wasted a couple of chances in the latter stages of the match.