Otabek, Absar give Sheikh Jamal winning start
Three-time champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club got off to an absolute start in the Bangladesh Premier League with a 2-1 make an impression on title-hopefuls Chattogram Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The Dhanmondi giants didn't get pleasure from better ball possession or attack, but drove home the benefit after a slightly fortuitous goal towards the finish of the first half.
Chattogram Abahani, alternatively, looked disjointed without their inspirational midfielder Charles Didier, who was simply serving a suspension following a red card in the semifinal of the Federation Cup against Saif Sporting Club.
Nixon Brizolara returned to the port city side after really missing out the knockout stages of the Federation Cup via an injury, but his movements and efforts before goal was well short of that which was expected of him judging by the performances in the group stage matches.
The Brazilian was heavily involved in the game as he was the prospective of most of the attacks from Chattogram Abahani, but his first major contribution to the overall game led to the opening goal for Sheikh Jamal.
The Brazilian, who scuffed a few attempts at the opposition goal in the opening half-hour, was part of a two-man wall when Sheikh Jamal earned a free-kick from the remaining side of the box in the 40th minute. Uzbek midfielder Vali Jonov Otabek attempted to pick the near corner of the post with a swinging effort, however the ball took a massive deflection off Nixon and ended up at the far corner of the net, departing Chattogram Abahani goalkeeper Mohammad Nayeem completely wrongfooted.
The goal came as a go in the arm for Sheikh Jamal, who doubled the lead 5 minutes after restart, with Nurul Absar picking the corner of the web with a robust header on a cross from Monir Hossain.
Although Absar profited from the non-existent marking inside the box, his header and the precision of it had been a rare sight for an area forward in Bangladesh's domestic football.
Both goalscorers of Sheikh Jamal were on the prowl once again 12 minutes later, but this time around Nayeem was add up to the task.
Chattogram Abahani coach Maruful Haque built a number of tactical substitutions and his team became more mixed up in game, earning a spot-kick in the 84th minute which Nixon dispatched confidently but that aggression came a touch too late as Sheikh Jamal held on to their lead to keep the field with three points.
