Bashundhara Kings started their mission in the 16th season of ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023-24, eyeing on their fifth consecutive title, with a massive 5-2 win over Brother Union Ltd on Friday.
The big scoring match of seven goals on the opening day is rarely seen in the country’s top tier professional competition which happened at the crowded Bashundhara Kings Arena, home venue of Kings, on this day of public holiday.
Both sides tried hard to extend their respective margins until the final whistle was blown, though the four-time BPL champions Kings were far ahead of Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) 2022–23 champions Brothers in ball possession, attacks and defense.
Kings forward Rakib Hossain struck the opening goal of this goal-fest match with a right-footed shot to the top of the box, off a pass from Ivorian midfielder Kpehi Jean Charles Didier Brossou in the 8th minute (1-0).
The first half ended at 1-0, but the margin could have been different if Brothers Uzbek captain Otabek Valijonov and Kings Brazilian forward Dorielton Nascimento headers in the 40th and 45+2nd minutes were not canceled for offsides.
Kings took control over the game in the second half when Dorielton scored two times within a span of three minutes.
The Brazilian star netted his brace with a right-footer from the same position on the left flank of the box utilizing passes from Rakib (2-0) and Kings Brazilian skipper Robson Robinho (3-0) respectively in the 58th and 61st minutes.
However, the overconfident Kings conceded the first goal when defender Rabbi Hossen Rahul scored a goal for BPL champions with a long-range grounder from the edge of the box utilizing a defensive error in the 69th minute (3-1).
Though it seemed very tough for Brothers to make a comeback in the match, but Kings skipper Robson didn't want to take any risk and scored the fifth goal to seal the fate of the match off an assist from substitute midfielder Mojibor Rahman Jony in the 89th minute (4-1).
Brothers Uzbek forward Otabek, who was earlier frustrated with an offside, finally scored a goal in the 90+2nd minute (4-2), but Kings substitute midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim ruined it just after two minutes adding the fifth goal in the 90+4th minute (5-2).
Rakib was adjudged the Man of the match. As per the new initiative of the Professional League Management Committee (PLMC) of Bangladesh Football Federation, former national star Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu handed over the trophy to Rakib after the match.
Earlier this match, BFF vice-president and PLMC new chairman Imrul Hassan, who is also the president of Bashundhara Kings, inaugurated the new edition as the chief guest there.
The inaugural ceremony also prayed for BFF President Kazi Md Salahuddin who is expected to undergo a heart (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) surgery soon.
In the day’s other matches, runners-up Dhaka Abahani Ltd were held by Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society to a 1-1 draw at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj.
Brazilian midfielder Jonathan da Silveira Fernandes took the lead for Abahani in the 21st minute, but Ghanaian forward Ernest Boateng equalized the margin for Rahamatganj in the 67th minute.
Riding on a brace from Colombian forward Edis Horacio Ibarguen Garcia in the 22nd and 43rd minutes, Police Football Club beat Chittagong Abahoni Ltd by 2-0 at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd beat Fortis FC by 2-1 goals at Muktijuddho Sriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
Midfielder Sahariar Emon and Nigerian defender Emmanuel Tony Agbaji scored a goal each in the 14th and 90th minutes for Mohammedan while Gambian forward Omar Sarr scored for Fortis in the 43rd minute.
Rahamatganj goalkeeper Md Nayem, Police Colombian forward Edis Garcia and Mohammedan Nigerian defender Emmanuel Agbaji were adjudged the Man of the match in their respective matches.
Meanwhile, the first round of the BPL will end today with the high-voltage match between the fifth and sixth ranked teams – Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd and Lt Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd, scheduled at the Kings Arena at 2:30 pm.
BDST: 2023 HRS, DEC 22, 2023
MSK
