Arambagh Krira Sangha lost their last Bangladesh Premier League match 2-3 against Team BJMC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The loss sees the team relegated from the league, which they have played in for about three decades. Some say the last time Arambagh was relegated was in 1980, while others say it was 1983. In the last few seasons, the team has often been fighting to remain in the league and just managed to hold onto their spot. This year, they were not so fortunate. “There was still hopes that we could save the relegation. But at the last moment, we couldn’t make it. We are very sad, the team is upset,” said Arambagh coach Shahadat Hossain at the post-match conference. “Luck didn’t favour us, that’s one of the reasons we got relegated. In the match against Mohammedan, we should have won the game. Feni could have been relegated in our place but they got the home advantage which gave them many points in the season,” he added. The game itself had everyone’s full attention, in the wake of suspicions of possible match fixing. For Arambagh it was a must win affair and BJMC were determined to throw off suspicions of match fixing. BJMC captain Amit Khan Shuvro, admitted after the game that had his side lost, they might well have been labelled match-fixers.
Arambagh took the lead after 21 minutes, but BJMC equalised seven minutes later when in-form forward Ismail Bangoura slammed a side volley into the net. The goal was the Guinean striker’s ninth of the league, placing him second on the top scorers list. Four minutes later, BJMC took the lead. Toklis Ahmed, who had scored twice in the previous match, set up Abdullah Parvez, who placed the ball into the net. BJMC extended their lead to 3-1 by half-time when Bangoura set up a Moklesur strike. Despite their best efforts, Arambagh could not effectively penetrate the BJMC defence in the second half. They did pull one back when a long distance strike by Kester beat the goalkeeper, but the final result remained a BJMC win, and with it, relegation for Arambagh.
Match Highlights
Team BJMC 3 – 2 Arambagh
22” GOAL! Dalim’s free kick found Abu Oludotun Paul inside the penalty area who sent the ball into the net and took the lead for Arambagh. 0-1.
27” GOAL! Ismail Bangoura’s side-volley allowed BJMC equalize the margin. 1-1.
32” GOAL! Parvez received the ball from Toklis and placed the ball into the net from the six-yard box. 2-1.
42” Goal! Moklesur Rahman scored from the six yard box following a pass from Ismail Bangoura. 3-1.
61” GOAL! It was Kester who produced a powerful strike from almost halfway to find the net. 3-2.