BJMC shock Jamal 3-1
Dhaka, February 1: Team BJMC shocked defending champions Sheikh Jamal 3-1 in the opening match of the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadaaium on Wednesday.
Sheikh Jamal was reduced to ten men in the 65th minute as their Nigerian forward Assogba Allen was sent off for an off the ball tackle on Jamal’s Cameroonian defender Baybeck.
Shiekh Jamal took the lead in the 7th minute when their Nigerian forward Kester headed the ball home from a close range after a Femi Orunimi free kick from the right flank looped over the BJMC defence and Kester made no mistake (1-0).
However Team BJMC hit back in the 28th minute as Cameroonian forward James Jules Ikanga placed the re-bounder past Jamal goalie Piru. Ikanga found the ball after Guinean forward Ismael Bangoura curled a corner and Ajagoun Abdul Rasheed’s head was cleared off the goal line (1-1).
Team BJMC lost two chances in the 41st and 51st minute, Ismael Bangoura placed a ball over the head of onrushing Piru on the first occasion but defender Mishu cleared the ball to safety. Ismael Bangoura missed a penalty on the second occasion after he was fouled by Jamal’s Ghanaian defender Yussif Issa in the box.
But Khokon Das, the experienced midfielder put his team ahead with a 25 yarder in the 61th minute. The shot dipped to beat Piru’s gloves in the far post (2-1).
Ismael Bangoura sealed the fate of the match in the 75th minute after he placed the ball over onrushing Piru from the top of the box (3-1).
Sheikh Jamal hardly matched the spirit of BJMC in the remaining minutes and BJMC took the revenge of the 3-1 loss in the final of the Federation Cup on January 24th.