Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington netted a brace while Haitian playmaker Sony Norde was also on target as table-toppers Sheikh Jamal DC outplayed Mohammedan SC 3-0 in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Norde orchestrated the comprehensive win by opening the scoring before setting up Darlington for both the goals scored in either side of each half.
The defeat virtually eliminated Mohammedan from title contention as they are now 11 points behind Sheikh Jamal, who are inching closer to their second professional league crown. The Dhanmondi-based outfit have 34 points from 14 matches, six ahead of second-placed Abahani while Mohammedan are lagging a further five points behind in third having played 14 matches.
With just three minutes into the clock, Darlington beat the offside trap and received a through pass from Alamgir Kabir Rana. The Nigerian evaded Mohammedan goalkeeper Titumir Titu before taking a shot on target which was blocked by Arup Kumar Baidya. A minute later Arup denied Darlington again in the six-yard box.
Norde on the other hand appeared menacing from the beginning and took only 12 minutes to give his side the lead with a solo effort. Kesto Kumar delivered a precise pass to Norde from almost the halfway mark and the Haitian skipped past a defender before launching a 20-yard effort between opposition defenders Mintu Sheikh and Baybeck and past the despairing dive of Titu.
Darlington doubled the lead ten minutes later. Norde set up the goal with a long cross from the left flank for the unmarked Darlington and the Nigerian forward made no mistake placing the ball home from the six-yard box.
Norde almost grabbed his second in the 38th minute when the Haitian forward’s angular shot from inside the box flew inches wide of the post.
Mohammedan created two chances to reduce the arrears on the stroke of the opening half with the best opportunity belonging to Arup. Receiving a pass from Hardy Pinto in added time of the first half Arup fired a 25-yard shot which hit the side-bar. Moments later, Arup provided a cross from the right for Towhidul Alam Sabuj whose diving header from the middle of the box narrowly missed the target.
Sheikh Jamal came agonisingly close to a third goal in the 52nd minute when Mohammedan defender Nahid almost scored an own goal as his clearance off a Norde corner hit the side-bar.
Darlington notched his second of the evening and extended Sheikh Jamal’s lead to 3-0 in the 62nd minute. Norde ran free through the left flank and slid the ball onto the path of Darlington who placed the ball into the net despite being closely marked by Nahid.
