Sheikh Russel wrapped up their second phase of the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League on a positive note as a very late strike from Mithun Chowdhury earned them a crucial 1-0 victory over 10-man Mohammedan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
With the game seemingly heading towards a goalless draw despite the Black and Whites’ dominance, national forward Mithun sealed the win with a sensational strike in the last minute of injury time to salvage all three points for the Blues.
Mohammedan missed the opportunity to leapfrog archrivals Abahani to second position as the Motijheel outfit concluded the second phase at third position with 32 points from 18 matches. Defending champions Russel remain at sixth with 24 points.
The first half was a dull affair as there was only one shot on target from both the sides. Mohammedan dominated the midfield but could rarely create chances for the strikers. They had the first shot on target in the 42nd minute when Wahed Ahmed’s strike from outside the box was decently saved by Russel keeper Biplob at the near post.
Mohammedan piled up more pressure on their opponents in the second half but Russel veteran custodian Biplob put up another heroic display to upset the Black and Whites.
Towhidul Alam Sabuj squandered a glorious chance in the 79th minute when he failed to hit the target from the six-yard box after fine work by Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Emily and Burkina Faso midfielder Zongo Ousseni.
Mohammedan were then reduced to 10 men when their Nigerian midfielder Damien Chigozi received a red card.
Biplob produced another brilliant save in the 88th minute with a diving effort to deny Emily’s header following a cross from Sabuj.
In the last minute of the five-minute stoppage time, Mithun stunned the Mohammedan fans by putting Russel ahead to score his fifth goal in the league. The national forward dribbled past a defender and chipped the ball from the edge of the box which flew over the Mohammedan goalie Mamun Khan and entered the near post.
It was the last game of the second phase of the league with Sheikh Jamal still at the summit of the points table with a massive eight-point lead. The third round of the league will kick off from June 14.
