over a spirited Arambagh KS in a thrilling encounter of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium last night.

The feisty spirit of the game boiled over among the officials as Arambagh KS president AKM Mominul Flaque exchanged heated words with referee Sujit Banarjee during the interval protesting Sheikh Jamal's third goal, forcing the start of the second half deferred by ten minutes.

The first half proved to be a keenly contested affair, at the end of which both sides were locked at 3-3, but Sheikh Jamal made it all their own by scoring three more times in the second half against one conceded. Nigerian striker Raphael Odoyin slotted a hattrick, his second of the league, to reclaim the top-scorer's spot with 11 goals while Gambian midfielder Solomon Ki ng scored a brace and Nurul Absar score the other for Sheikh Jamal, who climbed up to second position with 37 points from 16 matches.

Arambagh's impressive run in the second leg came to an end despite the

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club posted a 6-4 win fact that Rabiul Islam, Shahriar Bappy, Sumon Ali had kept their side in the match in the second half while Alamu Bukola had scored the side's fourth goal. After their ninth defeat in 16 matches, Arambagh remained in eighth position with 15 points.

Meanwhile, leaders Chittagong Abahani returned to winning ways after handing a 1-0 defeat to Rahmatganj MFS in the first match of the day.

Mohammad Abdullah separated

the sides from a free-kick in the 72nd minute as the port city outfit moved three points clear of nearest rivals Abahani with 39 points from 16 matches.

Coming on the back of a 2-2 draw against Sheikh Russel KC in their previous match, Chittagong Abahani had to toil hard on the muddy pitch against the Old Dhaka outfit whom they had defeated 2-0 in their first meeting of the league. The league leaders dominated possession, but failed to expose the five-man Rahmatganj defence. Whatever opportunities Chittagong Abahani got were wasted by their forwards.

The first notable attack came in the 18th minute when right-back Sushanta Tripura whipped in a cross forTowhidul Alam Sabuj, who incredibly flicked it wide from in front of goal with the goalkeeper to beat while Zahid Hossain rattled the post from a free-kick in the 34th minute.

Chittagong Abahani were once again denied the lead in the 70th minute when Lionel Saint Preux danced past three defenders to hit the crossbar before midfielder Abdullah broke the deadlock two minutes later. This time the post helped Chittagong Abahani get the lead as Abdullah's free-kick from nearly 35 yards out dipped in to hit the post before embracing the back of the net.

A minute later, Chittagong Abahani's goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana came to his side's rescue, thwarting attempts from Sharham Hawlader and Dawda Ceesay within a single minute. The port city side then almost doubled the lead two minutes before the end when Preux released a perfect cutback for Abdullah, who floated his