Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are on the verge of retaining the Bangladesh Premier League after the defending champions strolled past Brothers Union 5-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe slammed his first league hat-trick and added with the brace from Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington, the Dhanmondi outfit moved 11 points clear of second-placed Mohammedan SC.
A win against Mohammedan in their next fixture will see Jamal, who have 42 points from 17 matches, lift the trophy for the second consecutive time with two games in hand. While a draw can also produce a similar effect, given Sheikh Russel KC drop points in their next round.
The five-goal drubbing took the goal scoring tally of Jamal to 53 in the season while Emeka and Wedson are the joint top-scorers in the 11-team league with 16 strikes each. Brothers remained at fourth place with 29 points.
The goal-fest began at the quarter-hour mark when Landing’s 20-yard curler fooled Brothers goalkeeper Biplob and the veteran custodian was beaten inside three minutes again with Landing this time assisting Emeka.
Brothers pulled one back quickly through Augustin Walson as the Haitian nailed his free-kick from the top-left corner. However, Jamal restored their two-goal cushion when Emeka netted his second in the evening at the 45th minute and the lead was extended with Landing’s screamer moments later. Landing’s 25-yard venomous strike rattled the woodwork before bouncing over the goal-line.
The Gambian completed his hat-trick and Jamal’s rout in the 56th minute by chipping, on a cross from Emeka from the right flank, home over Biplob.
Meanwhile in the day’s other match, Muktijoddha Sangsad continued their miserable run as they suffered a shocking 2-3 defeat at the hands of Rahmatganj MFS.
It was Rahmatganj’ first victory against a top-half club in the league which helped the Old Dhaka outfit move to eighth place with 14 points from 16 matches while the All Reds remained sixth with 22 points.
Rahmatganj grabbed the lead in the 31st minute through Nurul Absar’s volley before Senegalese striker Camara Sarba’s header brought Muktis on level terms in the 62nd minute.
Five minutes later Gideon Solomon put Rahmatganj ahead before the Nigerian took the game away in the 86th minute by scoring off his head on Absar’s cross.
Rasel’s tackle on Sarba provided the Muktis with a chance to reduce the margin as Bangladesh’s veteran striker Enamul Haque made no mistake to convert the awarded penalty in the 90th minute.
