Table toppers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club dropped points for the first time in the second phase of the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League when they were held to a 2-2 draw against Feni Soccer Club at the Bangabondhu National Stadium yesterday.
Haitian forward Wedson Anselme scored a brace to give Sheikh Jamal a comfortable 2-0 lead at the half-hour mark but their delight didn’t last long as Nigerian striker Chuka Charles and Gambian forward Kabba Jobe netted one apiece within five minutes for Feni Soccer which created balance in the scoreline.
It was Sheikh Jamal’s first draw in last two months in the league after winning the last four league matches. The result, however, couldn’t cause any damage to Jamal’s current position at the top of the points table as they still remain six points clear of second-placed Abahani Limited with 28 points from 12 matches. Feni Soccer Club languishes in the eighth position with only 8 points although yesterday's performance was way better than that in the first phase when they were outplayed 4-2 by the same opponent.
With just four minutes into the match, Sohel Rana dodged past two defenders after receiving a cutback from Wedson Anselme and curled in a shot from 20 yards which hit the woodwork. Then In the 12th minute, following a short pass from Darling Darboe, Mathew Mendy’s shot from the middle of the box was blocked by a defender. But two minutes later, Wedson Anselme put Sheikh Jamal ahead with a powerful strike from 20 yards out after his compatriot Sony Norde provided the assist with a lovely through pass. Sheikh Jamal doubled their lead in the 30th minute with Wedson again getting his name on the score-sheet. Shahedul Alam fed a through pass for Wedson who drifted into the penalty area and sent the ball into the net with a crisp side volley.
Feni pulled one back two minutes later, thanks to a mistake by Didarul Hoque. The Jamal defender failed to clear a ball properly and Chuka Charles took a shot on the clearance that rolled into the net. Kabba Jobe then scored the equalizer three minutes later to compound Jamal's misery as Ramjan Ali Mollah’s free-kick from the right side found the unmarked Gambian forward inside the box who headed past Jamal keeper Ziaur Rahman.
Wedson almost scored his hat trick in the 54th minute when the Haitian's thumping strike was saved brilliantly by Feni keeper Nehal. Emeka Darlington also came close to scoring when his close-range header flew inches over the bar following a cross of Sony Norde in the 77th minute.
For Feni, It was an exhibition of wasting opportunities as Landing squandered an opportunity to seal the victory just a minute before the stipulated time when the Gambian midfielder headed just wide from a Chuka Charles cross. Feni missed another chance in the extra time. Receiving a long ball, Chuka Charles ran free towards goal and had only goalkeeper Zia to beat in a one-on-one situation. But he lost control of the ball at the key moment while attempting the shot.
