With just four games left in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League this season, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club inched closer to retaining their title after they sealed three crucial points from their intense match against close competitor Sheikh Russel KC yesterday. Mohammed Linkon’s stoppage-time strike at a water-logged Bangabandhu National Stadium made the score 4-3 in favour of the defending champions.
The win moved Sheikh Jamal, on 39 points from 16 matches, eight points ahead of second-placed Abahani while Sheikh Russel occupy fifth position with 29 points, having played a game less. The Dhanmondi-based football powerhouse need just seven more points from the remaining fixtures against strong opponents – Abahani, Mohammedan, Muktijoddha and Brothers Union – to retain their title.
Sheikh Jamal’s foreign attacking trio Landing Darboe, Emeka Darlington and Wedson Anselme registered their names on the scoresheet while Zahid Hossain, Kingsley Chigozie and Damir Ibric scored one apiece for Sheikh Russel.
Sheikh Russel, who conceded nine goals in their last two games, were not any better on the day and although Ibric’s brilliant goal five minutes from the final whistle put them ahead for the first time in the match, shaky defending and poor goalkeeping ended their hopes.
The goal-spree began with just 12 minutes on the clock when Gambian midfielder Landing scored from outside the box before in-form national winger Zahid cancelled out the lead in the 24th minute. After a precise through pass from Mithun Chowdhury, the pacey winger beat the offside trap before placing the ball from the far post.
Sheikh Jamal restored the lead in the 39th minute after Emeka cashed in on a goal-mouth melee that began with Sheikh Russel goalkeeper Mamun Khan failing to grip Mamunul Islam’s cross from the right.
Sheikh Jamal custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel made a decent block to deny Ibric’s placing shot seven minutes into the second half but Kingsley made no mistake in equalising the margin two minutes later heading home from the top of the six-yard box.
In the 85th minute, a long-ball from Paul Emile was headed down by Jean Jules Ikanga inside the box before an absolute beauty from Ibric, a mighty side-volley from outside the six-yard box, gave Sohel no chance to react, handing Sheikh Russel an unexpected lead.
However, Sheikh Jamal responded inside four minutes as Wedson cashed in during a goalkeeper-defender miscommunication and looped the ball over Mamun. Linkon was at the end of some neat passing by Wedson and Landing as Jamal won the match in stoppage time.
Meanwhile in the day’s other match at the same venue, Abahani were held to a goalless draw by Brothers. Brothers are fourth with 29 points from 16 outings.
