Kings kick off BPL with comfortable win over Baridhara

Defending Champions Bashundhara Kings kicked off the Bangladesh Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Uttar Baridhara Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today. 

Goals from Argentine forward Raul Oscar Becerra and youngster Mohammad Ibrahim helped secure victory for the recent Federation Cup winners.

Kings started the match with all guns blazing. The reigning champions came close to scoring when Becerra's bullet header from a Bishwanath Ghosh cross ricocheted off the frame of the goal in the 17th minute.

Kings again got a similar chance in the 35th minute. But this time  Becerra made full use of Biswanath's cross from the right flank as the Argentine forward sent the ball to the back of the net with a beautifully connected header.

In the last minute of first-half stoppage time, Baridhara's Sumon Reza came close to equalising but Kings skipper Topu Barman rose to the occasion and made a goal-line clearance to help Kings go into the half-time break with the lead intact. 

The second goal for Bashundhara came early in the second half as a defense-dissecting pass from Becerra found its way to Ibrahim, who slotted it home after being one-on-one with the Baridhara keeper. 

In the 88th minute, Becerra had a chance to score a brace, but this time Baridhara's keeper Alif's acrobatic save denied him. 

"We actually had very little time to train and prepare. So I'm happy overall, my boys played very well and we got good chances. This was a good fight. Our goal is to finish at 5th or 6th Position in the league.", said Baridhara head coach Sheikh Jahidur Rahman. 

Kings' head coach Oscar Bruzon shared his thoughts about the match, " We had difficulties in the first 30 minutes, but once we scored the goals, we got control of the game.  The boys are recovering physically and mentally from the tough semifinal and final of the Federation Cup, but I'm happy that they maintained the same tempo."