The new-look Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, under their newly appointed Macedonian coach Marjan Sekulovski, started their campaign in the ongoing season curtain raiser Independence Cup 2023 with a 4-0 win over Brothers Union Ltd at Bashundhara Kings Arena on Monday.
Debutant Brazilian midfielder Higor Barbosa Rodrigues Leite opened account for Sheikh Jamal with a right-footed angular cross to the far post in the 11th minute and doubled the margin with a brilliant straight free-kick from far away of the box in the 36th minute.
Higor could achieve a rare feat scoring a hat-trick in his maiden appearance for Bangladesh Premier League Club but his third goal was canceled for offside in the second half.
After two minutes, Colombian forward Bladimir Yovany Diaz Saavedra, who also made debut on this day, scored the third goal and confirmed the fate of the match in the 59th minute while forward Sazzad Hossain netted one to extend the margin in the 73rd minute.
Sheikh Jamal DC, who were put in the three-team Group A, confirmed their spot for the quarterfinals of this event with this lone win while Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) champions Brothers Union became the first team to be eliminated after two defeats in the group stage.
Brothers, who are taking part in the top tier competitions after two seasons, started with 0-2 goals defeat to Police Football Club in the first match of this group in Munshiganj last Friday.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jamal and Police FC will lock horns in the place decider at the Kings Arena on November 2.
Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd also tasted their first victory of the ongoing meet as they beat Bangladesh Air Force by 1-0 goal in their second match of the four-team Group B at Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on this day.
After a barren first half, forward Dipok Roy scored the match winner for last year’s Independence Cup runners up in the 61st minute.
Sheikh Russel earlier started their campaign with a goalless draw against Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in their first match at the Kings Arena on Friday.
They will play their last group match against Dhaka Abahani Ltd at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj on November 2.
BDST: 2108 HRS, OCT 30, 2023
MSK
