Muktijoddha Sangsad moved to the top of the table in the Grameen-

phone Bangladesh Premier League after handing a 2-0 defeat to defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Nigerian duo Chibuike Divine and Sunday Chijuba struck one goal each in the firsthalf. MuktijoddhaSangsadnowhave20 points from nine matches, three points more than second placed Abahani who however, have played two matches less than last season's runners-up.

Defending champions Sheikh Jamal, on the other hand, slipped one spot to fourth place by virtue of goal difference. Sheikh Jamal have 10 points from nine matches.

Kestor Akon was the only international player included in a Sheikh Jamal opening lineup missing Brazilian midfielder Everton and two other Nigerian recruits. They struggled to keep the rhythm they showed in their 3-2 triumph over Sheikh Russel in the previous match and conceded two goals in the firsthalf.

Coach Abu Yousuf brought changes in the second half sending on Everton and Samnick Yoko to control the midfield and the move yielded three good scoring chances which went a begging. Sheikh Jamal were left to walk away with their fifth defeat in nine matches.

"We just gifted two goals to our opponents and we should have won the match the way we played in the second half despite going two goals down but it seemed to me that the foreign players are not interested in giving their full efforts though I don't know the reason behind their reluctant attitude,” said Sheikh Jamal coach AbuYousuf.

Sheikh Jamal should have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute but left-back Atiqur Rahman Meshu failed to connect a Kester Akon right-flick cross on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was a wake-up call for Muktijoddha, coming into the game following a goalless draw against Team BJMC in the previous match and the Freedom Fighters' side availed their first chance to go ahead in the eighth minute.

Sheikh Jamal defenders had enough time to clear a throw-in inside the area but failed to do so, and the ball went to an unmarked Devine who fired home from close range. Later, Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Pianizzaman, playing in place of Aminul Haque, was caught in two minds as to whether to clear Zahid Hasan Emily's long ball from outside the box and Sunday capitalised on Piru's hesitation to place the ball home from the edge of the box. Sunday's latest strike put him at the top of the scorer list with six goals in nine games.

Sheikh Jamal's best scoring chance came in the

79th minute through a fine combination among Everton, Abdul Baten and Kester but the Nigerian hitman's final drive was well off-target.

“I am happy for the victory but not happy the way the boys played in the second half. They might feel relaxed after scoring two goals in the first half,” said Muktijoddha Sangsad coach Shafiqul Islam Manik.