Saif blank Brothers
Saif Sporting Golf club ended the first stage of their Bangladesh Premier League campaign on a higher note, inflicting a 4-0 defeat on Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
However, despite the fact that Saif, runners-up of the season's curtain-raising Federation Cup, had started your competition among the title contenders, they are now 12 tips behind leaders Bashundhara Kings.
Saif failed to hold their Federation Cup momentum in to the league because they suffered four defeats in 12 matches, drawing a single and winning seven. Yesterday's gain helped them climb to fourth position with 22 factors, three behind second-inserted Abahani.
Beneath the tutelage of Belgian coach Paul Set, Saif set up some spirited performances in the Federation Cup and the league however the 64-year-old coach was relieved off his duties after 10 matches. That prompted the club control to move the baton to assistant coach Zulfikar Mahmud Mintu and the local coach proved his worthy of by aiding his charges put four past their opponents within the last two games.
Saif yesterday found from where they still left against Bangladesh Police [4-1] because they took only 32 seconds to break the deadlock. From an strike through the proper flank, John Okoli fed the ball to Faisal Ahmed Fahim, who then put a through move to Yeasin Arafat and the defender's shot found the trunk of the net following a deflection off defender Munna Mia.
Fahim again turned into provider when played a cut-back inside the box for Kenneth Ikechukwu, who doubled the lead with a side-footed volley in the 19th minute. Okoli managed to get 3-0 with a placing shot in the 72nd minute after obtaining an extended ball from defender Riyadul Islam Rafi.
Brothers Union then found Chamir Ullah denied in the 81st minute by goalkeeper Pappu Hossain, who was simply lucky never to concede a goal another minute as alternative Mezbah Uddin's header ricocheted off the crossbar.
Nigerian forward Okoli wrapped it up with another putting shot in the 83rd minute after being found free in Brothers' attacking third by Yeasin's long ball.
In the day's other meet, Rahmatganj authorized their third victory, via behind and thrashing hosts Arambagh KS 4-1 in Munshiganj.
Mehbub Hasan Nayan scored a good brace even though Christ Remi and Beknazzarov scored one particular apiece after Nihat Jaman Ucchash had put Arambagh ahead early found in the first half.
With their third win, Rahmatganj moved to eighth job with 13 issues from 12 suits while Arambagh stayed in the bottom with a single stage from 12 outings.
