Sk Russel scrape past Arambagh
Ethiopian hitman Fikru Zeida, a star player of the Indian Premier League, celebrated his debut in Bangladesh with a strike to guide Sheikh Russel KC to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Arambagh KS at the Bangabadhu National Stadium yesterday in both side's first match in the KFC Independence Cup.
Fikru showed his skill with his first touch to put a rejuvenated Sheikh Russel ahead in the second minute before Arambagh's Nigerian striker Kester Akon cancelled the lead two minutes later. A win for Sheikh Russel looked a distant prospect but Cameroonian midfielder Paul Emile dramatically struck the decider nine minutes from time to give the 2013 champions a winning start.
Since his second-minute strike, Fikru was mostly inactive, but that was due to a lack of service. However, the 30-year-old marksman looked better in the second half when Cameroonian midfielder Paul was paired with him upfront.
"As [it was] my first game, I felt uneasy because I am a new player playing in a new ground. But I am happy with the winning start. I scored one goal and missed one but we got the full three points and that is important to the team. We just need to keep working hard. We want to keep winning," said the six-foot tall striker after the match.
After Maruful Haque failed to impress with his erratic showings, promoted Arambagh, under the guidance of Saiful Bari Titu, won hearts with the spirited performance which kept them in the hunt against big-budget Sheikh Russel.
Nigerian striker Kester, a familiar face in Bangladesh's domestic circuit, was a constant threat to Sheikh Russel throughout the game, while diminutive winger Abu Sufian impressed with his darting runs from the right flank, exposing the vulnerable Sheikh Russel defence on a few occasions.
Sheikh Russel were lucky to secure full points after goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud Liton was forced into making two brilliant saves from Kester and Sufian in the second half.
CHITTAGONG ABAHANI START WITH A WIN
In the second match under floodlights, big-budget Chittagong Abahani also got off to a wining start after inflicting a 2-0 defeat on Muktijoddha Sangsad KS.
With five 'disputed' players -- Mamumul Islam, Sohel Rana, Nasir Chowdhury, Raihan Hasan and Yeamin Ahmed Munna -- watching from the gallery, Chittagong Abahani faced a tough challenge from Muktijoddha Sangsad before two foreign recruits -- Moroccan midfielder Tareq El Janabi and Haitian striker Fabrice Noel -- rescued the port city side, striking in the 30th and 76th minutes respectively.
Tareq converted a spot kick after Shariful Islam was brought down by opposition goalkeeper Mamun Khan while, from a counter attack, Noel availed a defence-splitting pass from winger Zahid Hossain and sealed victory with a tap-in.