Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam and Wedson Anselme slammed hattricks to propel Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to a thumping 9-1 rout over bottom side Farashganj in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Meanwhile in the day’s other match at the same venue, Abahani pipped Rahmatganj 3-2 with Sunday Chizoba grabbing a brace while Osei Morrison was also on the scoresheet for the victors.
Prior to yesterday’s clash between the league leaders and the whipping boys, only six points separated the top six sides while five points divided the bottom five sides. As a result, defending champions Sheikh Jamal had very little margin for error when the second phase of the top-tier began yesterday following a 32-day break.
However, Farashganj, who are the only winless top-flight side, provided anything but resistance yesterday as the holders recorded the highest margin of victory in the country’s professional football arena. The Dhanmondi giant bettered their own record, a 8-0 rout against Uttar Baridhara in March last season.
Talismanic midfielder Mamunul netted the first ever hattrick of his top-flight career and two of his goals were absolute delights as he scored them from outside the box. All of his goals came in the second half while “El Capitano” also assisted two for Wedson and Toklis Ahmed Tonmoy.
Wedson on the other hand completed his first hattrick in the league this season before Mamunul had even opened his account. The Haitian international grabbed four with two coming in either half. He is now the second highest goal-scorer in the league with 10 goals. His hattrick was the league’s third this season after Augustine Walson and Ismael Bangoura. Mamunul later notched the league’s fourth treble.
New Sheikh Jamal head coach Joseph Afusi began his second stint with a bang as his charges totally dominated Farashganj. Afusi, who guided Sheikh Jamal to their inaugural top-tier title in 2011/12, brought on Toklis in the second half and the young striker vindicated the coach’s decision by scoring his side’s eighth goal with a lovely finish.
Sheikh Jamal remained at the summit with 26 points from 11 matches and are six points clear of their nearest rivals Mohammedan but the traditional Black and Whites can reduce the gap to three points if they win their today’s clash against Chittagong Abahani at MA Aziz Stadium. Muktijoddha, who are seven points behind the table-toppers, also have the opportunity of elevating themselves in the 11-team standings with a victory over Soccer Club Feni today at Bangabandhu National Stadium.