An injury-time strike by Kingsley Chigozie guided Sheikh Russel KC to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Feni Soccer Club in the Manyvar Bangladesh Premier League at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The Blues, with 38 points from 18 matches, are now almost assured of finishing as the runners-up side in the top-flight ahead of traditional Dhaka giants Abahani and Mohammedan. Seventh-placed Soccer Club on the other hand have 18 points from the same number of outings.
Soccer Club took the lead with just 10 minutes into the clock when forward Sohel Mia, snatching the ball from Atiqur Rahman Meshu, dodged past goalkeeper Russel Mahmud Liton and placed the ball home. Skipper Mithun Chowdhury cancelled out the lead in the 24th minute with a solo effort.
Sheikh Russel went ahead five minutes into the second half when Nigerian forward Paul Emile headed home a cross from Cameroonian Kingsley. The Blues extended the lead two minutes later as Jahid Hasan Ameli fired the ball into the net after exchanging passes with Kingsley. Soccer Club pulled one back in the 58th minute when midfielder Ali Hossain sent the ball home from close range after a cutback from Gambian midfielder Jatta Mustapha. Coming off the bench, midfielder Abdullah al Mamun stunned the Blues by levelling the margin at the hour mark.
Kingsley helped Russel salvage all three points with a late strike in injury time. Collecting a through pass from the midfield, Kingsley ran through the left wing, found an empty box and finished the game off with a sublime strike.
Meanwhile in the day’s other match at the same venue, a lone goal from forward Mohammad Rony helped Brothers Union edge past Rahmatganj 1-0. The only goal of the game came at the quarter-hour mark when Rony found the back of the net with a placing shot into the far post following a cross from Imtiaz Sultan Jitu.
Elsewhere, hosts Chittagong Abahani and Team BJMC played out a goalless draw at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
