B. League
Brothers return strongly
Sports Reporter
Brothers Union returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 defeat of Arambagh yesterday that put them among the top four of the B. League.Smarting from a shocking 4-2 loss to visiting Khulna Abahani at home last week, Brothers displayed a matured account at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with strikes from Jalaluddin and Elijah Junior and an own goal by Arambagh defender Sharif Khan steering them to their second win in four games. Brothers raised their collection to seven points to topple Arambagh, who briefly came back in the game with a penalty goal by Thomas Biketi, in the table with better goal difference. The Oranges came alive immediately after the kick-off and midfielder Jalal sent a cross into the box only to see a powerful hit by Nigerian striker Junior being blocked by Piru at the Arambagh goal in the fourth minute. Five minutes later, Moroccan midfielder Hicham Inani inspired the Gopibagh outfit to go ahead after had work at the left wing. Although Piru punched out Inani's centre, Junior's volley came off a rival defender to find Jalal, who beat Piru with a low angled drive from the top of the box. Kenyan striker Nico Dimas came close to equalise in the 16th minute but the Arambagh forward, who struck thrice in the team's wins in the previous two rounds, failed to nod the ball after a pin-point cross by Ugandan medio Iddi. Arambagh kept the pressure and Dimas earned a penalty in the 37th minute when he was fouled from the back by rival centre-back Shuvra after invading the Brothers box with a headed pass from compatriot Dominic. It was Biketi who levelled the score from the spot, drilling the ball low into Mohammed Ali's left hand post. In a more lively second half, Arambagh came close to take the lead but Dimas once again wasted a chance when he misheaded Ritu's cross from close range in the 50th minute. In a next-minute counter foray, Mamun headed a Masud Rana freekick wide at the near post but Brothers continued to dominate and went ahead again in the 64th minute. Jalal, who had a superb outing, curled an excellent 25-yarder but Piru was equally brilliant to foil the attempt for a corner, which provided Junior the chance to drive home from a melee for his third league goal. Topu should have scored when he got possession of a rebound after Jalal's long-range shot smothered Piru but the Brothers substitute lost control before the goalmouth. Jalal also had a hand in their third goal that sealed the victory for Syed Nayeemuddin's side ten minutes from time. The midfielder broke an off-side trap at the left flank with a through by Manju from their own half before cutting a long square to the path of Faisal but Sharif's clumsy effort to clear saw the ball slam into the back of the Arambagh net. Yellow card: Shuvra (Brothers) TEAMS BROTHERS: Ali, Shuvra, Jewel, Masud Rana, Rony, Shakil (Topu), Inani (Faisal), Rintu, Jalal, Mamun (Manju) and Junior. ARAMBAGH: Piru, Shamim (Morshed), Ramjan, Biketi, Akram, Sharif, Iddi, Zuku, Dominic (Malay), Dimas and Tabith (Ritu). Referee: Azad Rahman.
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