Rahmatganj sink Sheikh Jamal

Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society broke their three-match losing streak and returned to the third position on the JB Bangladesh Premier League table with a 1-0 victory against defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Rafiquddiun Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh yesterday. Siyo Zunapio scored the decisive goal in the 69th minute of the match to take the Old Dhaka outfit to 25 points from 14 outings.

On the other hand, the Dhanmondi giants lost more ground as they slipped to fourth position with 22 points in their account. Abahani lead the table with 29 points having played 13 matches so far.

The first match of the Mymensingh phase in the second leg proved to be a tight affair, with little difference between the two sides and little in terms of goal mouth action. The Old Dhaka outfit held the three-time champions to a 1-1 draw in the first leg and had their fair share of possession and attacks in the first half, yet failed to make any impact on the scoreline.

However, the introduction of midfielder Sohel Rana in the second half injected life into Rahmatganj's attacks and after threatening the Sheikh Jamal goal a couple of times, the surprise package of the season got a deserved breakthrough. Zunapio forced a brilliant save from Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Mazharul Islam Himel when the Congolese forward's volley from the edge of the box was palmed away for a corner in the 68th minute. The resulting corner brought the breakthrough as Faisal Ahmed's curling kick was headed towards goal by Didarul Alam, which Himel could only parry softly. The ball, however, hit defender Mohammad Linkon and fell in front of goal, with an unmarked Zunapio comfortably poking it in for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Sheikh Jamal came close to equalising when Landing Darboe's dipping free-kick left Rahmatganj goalkeeper Mohammad Al Amin flatfooted, only for the ball to hit the crossbar. Sheikh Jamal coach Joshimuddin Joshi made a number of attacking substitutions but the Old Dhaka outfit held firm to snatch a win after three consecutive defeats.