Sheikh Jamal post second successive win
Sports Reporter
An early strike in the second half from Nurul Absar steered Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to a solitary goal victory against Team BJMC in the Saif Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League Football yesterday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
It was second successive win for Sheikh Jamal when they began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club while BJMC shared points in their opening match after a goalless draw with Brothers Union.
It was more poor condition of the BNS on the day than it was on Wednesday, as yesterday also it was a cats and dogs rain for about two hours and made the pitch muddy and slippery that refrained the players to play good football.
Jamal, who had the opportunity in the last season to have the credit of winning the hat-trick championship in the Bangladesh Premier League but failed due to an eventful pre-season inter-club players transfer when they lost their maximum key performers including the teams main marks man Wedson Enselme.
In a bid to regain the title this year, Jamal formed the team with some of promising players along with experienced and a skilled striker from Nigeria when they also returned their successful Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi.
However, the Dhanmondi outfit opened the days first chance to break the deadlock in the very seventh minute with Solomon King setting a through pass and Raphael Odovin beat the defenders and went into the open space inside the box. But a powerful right footer into the far post of the Nigerian was beautifully saved by BJMC goalkeeper Shohag with a right-hand dive.
BJMC, who also tried hard to share possessions evenly, were very closer to take lead when Shariful received the ball from left-side move, incredibly entered into danger area with a solo effort edging past his markers with superb inside-outside dodge but finally goalkeeper advanced to block him.
Jamal produced their second opportunity to take lead on 38th minute but this time also Raphaels good attempt was denied by BJMC keeper in an one on one situation with a good effort at the cost of a corner when the Nigerian again beat the defense after receiving a long ball from midway.
After the goalless first half, Jamal drew first blood to take lead the inside nine minutes after the break. It was an Ali Hossan defense splitting run down the left side and set a cross inside the area and unmarked Nurul Absar made a brilliant finish when the forward shot on first drop to sent the ball into top corner of the net (1-0) and Jamal earned second successive win.
