Bashundhara Kings lost points for the first time in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League as Team BJMC held them with a goalless draw at Shahid Bulu Stadium, Noakhali on Tuesday.
The new cash-rich side of the country, which won the Independence Cup this year, made a remarkable debut in the top domestic league as they won their first five matches.
With the draw they have now 16 points, two behind league leader and defending Champions Abahani, but they have played one less game and have the chance to topple the sky-blues in next game. BJMC have now three points from seven games.
Bashundhara, who have scored 10 goals in first five games, failed to create any substantial chance in the first half let alone score a goal.
Their Kyrgyzstan midfielder Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov free-kick went over the bar in 31st minute while BJMC goalkeeper Abul Kashem Milon saved an easy chance four minutes later.
The star-studded side was once again denied by Milon in the 56th minute when their Costa Rican World Cupper Daniel Colindres’ free kick was saved by the goalie. He denied Kings Brazilian forward Marcos Vinicius in the 62nd and 65th minute before saving Nasir Uddin’s shot from the goal line in 67th minute.
Arambagh Krira Chakra earned full three points by beating Nofel Sporting Club 1-0 in the Bangladesh Premier League at Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Monday.https://t.co/bunk2Ml7n4#ARAMBAGH #FOOTBALL #NOFEL #BFF #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BPL #BPLFOOTBALL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 18, 2019
The desperate Kings not only failed to break the deadlock they got a big setback in the 77th minute when Nasir tripped off BJMC captain Samson Iliasu and received a marching order of the referee.
However, BJMC could not breach the defense of Kings, who have conceded just one goal in the league so far, by utilizing the numerical advantage.
After the final whistle few Bashundhara players and staff rushed toward referee Jalal Uddin and Duyshobekov received a yellow card outside the playing arena.
Although the Feni match went goalless the match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium saw four goals as Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society made a remarkable comeback by scoring two second-half goals to end the match in a draw.
Rakib Khan went through the gap of the Rahmatganj defense in the 14th minute before Ballo Famoussa scored an easy goal from his through pass. This was the sixth goal for the Ivory Coast striker and he is the highest goal-scorer in the league till date.
The goal machine scored another one just six minutes later when he calmly finished off a chip from Japanese midfielder Yusuke Kato.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited ended their streak of losses in the Bangladesh Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw by Chittagong Abahani Limited at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Monday.https://t.co/ZMFkNZ0M22#BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BPL #BPLFOOTBALL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 18, 2019
However, despite the two-goal cushion Muktijoddha faced a setback four minutes later when Kato received a direct red card and that reduced their intensity.
With the numerical advantage, Rahmataganj got back into the groove and scored a goal in the 52nd minute when their Congolese striker Sio Junipao headed in from a Sohel Rana corner.
Sohel took a powerful shot four minutes later but the goalkeeper could fist the ball away. However, the ball came back in front of Chowmin Rakhaine and he headed it home to equalize.
With the result Muktijoddha now have seven points from six matches while Rahmatganj have four from seven games.
