No stopping Kings
Bashundhara Kings moved to the top of the Bangladesh Premier League, maintaining a hundred per cent record with a 3-1 win away to Muktijoddha Sangsad at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj yesterday.
The Independence Cup champions took an early lead but were pegged back by the hosts soon. However, after surviving a few scares from the hosts, Oscar Bruzon's charges ramped up their game and scored twice to ensure all three points.
The newcomers have 12 points from four matches, equal with defending champions Abahani who have played five matches so far while Muktijoddha, who suffered their first home defeat, stayed in eighth position with six points from five matches.
The early pace-setters took a ninth-minute lead when defender Shushanto Tripura slammed home from a goalmouth melee on a corner from their Costa Rican star Daniel Colindres.
However, the All Reds were back in the game ten minutes later as their Japanese recruit Yousuke Kato shot one home from the spot after Bashundhara Kings goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico brought down Muktijoddha forward Ballo Famousa inside the box.
There were chances at both ends and Kings should have regained the lead before the break, but Marcos Vinicius wasted a spot-kick in the 38th minute, shooting a feeble effort right at the body of Muktijoddha keeper Arifuzzaman Himel.
However, that missed opportunity did not cost the Kings dearly as they hit back with on-song striker Motin Mia flicking home Vinicius's pass from the left in the 70th minute. This was the third goal for the young national team forward.
The fate of the match was sealed four minutes later when Colindres curled in a free-kick right from the corner of the box which sailed into the net evading a host of opposition defenders and leaving Himel flat-footed.
NOFEL BREAK THEIR DUCK
Newcomers NoFeL Sporting got their first points of the campaign as they bounced back from two goals down to hold fellow strugglers Rahmatganj to a 2-2 draw at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
The result lifted NoFeL to one point from four matches while Rahmatganj have three points from five matches.
The Old Dhaka outfit took the lead when Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio slotted home with a sliding effort on a header from Monday Osagie in the 25th minute before the latter scored himself with a towering header six minutes later.
NoFeL Sporting found a lifeline after the break when Ismail Bangoura's throughball was expertly turned in at far post by Mohammad Roman before Rahmatganj were reduced to ten men as Sohel Rana brought down Bangoura inside the box, conceding a penalty as well which was calmly dispatched by Bangoura.
There were no more goals despite some meaningful attacks from NoFeL Sporting, but they were happy to have at least broken their duck.
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