Jamal on top with fourth straight win

Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited carried on their fine form in the Bangladesh Premier League as they bagged their fourth consecutive win for the first time in two and a half years, beating Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra 2-0 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka to climb solely to the top of the points table.

The Dhanmondi outfit struggled last season, at the middle of which Shafiqul Islam Manik took charge to revamp the side which had three premier league titles until 2015, but no star-studded squad since then.

“We have not won two matches in a row since I took charge,” said Manik. 

He added, “The reasons behind recent form are team spirit, motivation, the combination between foreign and local players and a bit of luck as well. It’s tough but we have to keep up this consistency.”

Action from the game Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik

After Sheikh Russel defender Alison Udoka’s header was denied by the sidepost early in the game, Solomon Kanform provided the breakthrough in the 24th minute, placing home from the top of the box after controlling a long cross from their own half.

It was other Gambian striker Omar who doubled the lead 12 minutes after the break, tapping home from close-range following a goal-bound shot from Zahid Hossain.

Sheikh Jamal, who conceded a defeat in the first match, now have 12 points from five matches while Sheikh Russel continued to struggle with three defeats, two draws and a win, and remained at eighth.

Sheikh Russel’s head coach Saiful Bari Titu termed scoring inability and poor defending behind the recent form, while also informing that their Brazilian striker Pedro Henrique is ruled out for “nine months due to achilles tendon surgery.

RESULT

Sk Jamal 2 (Solomon 14, Omar 57) 0 Sk Russel