Newcomers Team BJMC gave the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League a spectacular start when they upended holders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 3-1 in the opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The stunning win exacted swift revenge for BJMC for their 3-1 reverse at the hands of Sheikh Jamal in the Federation Cup final a week ago.

After conceding an early goal, BJMC weathered the early storm and scored three goals in an impressive display of determination and skill to mark their return to the toptier league with a memorable victory.

Sheikh Jamal were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Nigerian midfielder Assogba Allen was shown direct red after hitting BJMC defender Baybeck in an off-the-ball incident. BJMC, leading the proceedings 2-1 at the time, took full toll of their man advantage and nailed the final peg.

Like their Federation Cup final, this match too turned out to be a classic battle, with only the roles reversed. The defending champions got off to a positive start as their Nigerian striker Kester Akon slapped a diving header home on a Feni Orunnimi free-kick to give their side a sixth-minute lead. The Dhanmondi Club kept the pressure for the first twenty minutes before losing control in the midfield and BJMC started to penetrate the opposition defence. It became a one-way traffic for the rest of the match as Sheikh Jamal players were confined to their own half clearing the attacks of BJMC.

“This defeat may work as a wake-up call for us,” Sheikh Jamal coach Saiful Bari Titu said after the match. “We were initially ahead, but despite taking an early lead we gave away the match. To be honest, we were beaten in every department.”

Jeans Jules Ikanga levelled the margin in the 28th minute for BJMC, who should have taken at least a 3-1 lead in the first half but for some superb saves from the Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Piaruzzaman Piru who was playing in place of injuredAminul Haq.

Midfielder Khokon Das made it 2-1 for BJMC in the 61st minute with a spectacular dipping shot from outside the box before Guinean striker Ismael Bangoura, who caused havoc in the Sheikh Jamal defence throughout the game, sealed the victory in the 75th minute by sending the ball over the advancing keeper. Piru later thwarted two more attempts from BJMC strikers to keep the margin of defeat to a respectable one.

As soon as the final whistle blew, Team BJMC players hugged and shook hands in celebrating their victory.

“We were disappointed losing the Federation Cup final as we felt we were the superior side, which proved today,” said Bangoura adding that it was sweet revenge for them and the victory would help them grow more confident in the upcoming matches.

BJMC coach Jakaria Babu said that his charges started from where they left in the Federation Cup and that they would put on consistent performances in the league to present a different flavour of play.