UNB, Chittagong :
Defending champion Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd shared points with Arambagh Krira Sangha as the opening match of the JB Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football ended in 1-1 draw at MA Aziz Stadium here on Sunday.
Nigerian forward Emaka Darlington put yellow coloured Sk Jamal DC ahead in the 16th minute by a right footer from the left side of the six yard box, off a Rakib Sarker pass from the top of the box (1-0).
Attacking midfielder of Arambagh KS Abdullah equalized the margin in the stoppage time of the match by a volley from the top of the six yard box, off a right Mansur Amin cross from right flank (1-1).
Earlier in the 15th minute, Arambagh’s Nigerian forward Kester Akon spoiled an opportunity to put his side ahead. He deceived two defenders of Sk Jamal in the box but fell down before taking the right footer and finally goalie Mazharul Islam Himel tackled the situation.
In the 39th minute, Kester Akon again created another good chance for Arambagh KS, but his right footer was cleared by defender Kesto Kumar Bosh at the cost of a corner
Sk Jamal made a couple of successive attacks in the dying moment of the first half, but failed to convert any correctly.
In the 2nd half, Sk Jamal DC adopted defensive strategy to keep their lead intact and showed a poor performance against their opponents, but ultimately failed to defend their 1-0 lead against Arambagh attack one after another.
In the 63rd minute, Arambagh defender Monsur Amin took a power-packed right footer from 30 yards, but Jamal goalie Himel punched the ball sway.
Arambagh forward Jafar Iqbal created a good chance in the 71st minute, but his solo effort from the top of the six yard box went out edging the left post.
Earlier, Chairman of BFF Professional Football League Committee and BFF Senior Vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy inaugurated the league as the chief guest. BFF general secretary Abu Nyeem Sohag and Saif Global Sports (SGS) Chairmen Tarafder Ruhul Amin were also present in the occasion.
Red Cards: Issah Yussif (Arambagh KS) and Emeka Darlington (Sheikh Jamal DC).
Sheikh Jamal DC: Staring X1: Mazharul Islam Himel, Kesto Kumar Bosh, Darbo Landing (Gambia), Emeka Darlington (Nigeria), Enamul Haque, Anamul Haque Sharif, Mohammad Shihab, Yeasin Khan(captain), Shariful Karim, Anisur Alam Sweet and Rakib Sarker.
Arambagh KS Starting XI: Mitul Hasan (captain), Issah Yussif(Ghana), Akramuzaman Liton, Aung Thowai Ching Marma, Kester Ekon (Nigeria), Mohammad Yousuf, Monsur Amin, Kazi Shariful Islam Shajib, Yoko Samnik (Cameroon), Jafar Iqbal and Md Abdullah.
