Montenegrin coach Dragan Djukanovic tasted his maiden victory in Bangladesh as reigning champions Sheikh Russel earned a comfortable 3-1 victory over Feni Soccer Club in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Former national striker Anwar Hossain, Md. Sumon and Haitian Pascal Millien were all on target to give Russel their second win in the second phase of the league and first victory after five matches under their new Montenegrin trainer. The last season’s treble winners, however, could only manage to leapfrog Team BJMC to sixth place in the table with 20 points from 16 matches.
Djukanovic started with a different playing eleven with no foreigners that paved the way for players like Fazle Rabbi and Md. Sumon to get into the side. Anwar repaid the faith of the coach by putting Russel ahead with a brilliant strike with just eight minutes into the clock. Shakil Ahmed picked him out at the back post with a neat pass from midfield and Anwar volleyed into the top corner from a rebound giving Soccer Club goalkeeper Md. Nehal no chance.
In the 23rd minute, as the Soccer Club defence were caught napping, Russel midfielder Shakil was left completely unmarked but squandered the opportunity by shooting wide.
Russel midfielder Md. Sumon doubled the lead in the 28th minute by being the first to react in the the box and flicked home a Fazle Rabbi cross from the right flank. Nehal produced a decent save at his near post to deny Pascal Millien’s shot from the middle of the box in the 42nd minute.
Soccer Club on the other hand tried to stage a comeback as their Gambian forward Mathew Mendy pulled one back in the 78th minute. Receiving a forward pass from Kabba Jobe, Mendy broke into the penalty area and sent the ball over Russel custodian Biplob with a tricky chip towards the far post.
Haitian forward Pascal Millien sealed victory in injury time to score his third goal of the season as his left-footed shot deflected off Soccer Club keeper Nehal and into the box.