SPORTS REPORTER

Saif Sporting Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club shared the spoils of an entertaining 2-2 draw in their Bangladesh Premier League fixture at the Birshrestha Flight Lt Motiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj yesterday.

The two sides have been been in a dogfight for a top-three finish and the result left neither team in a better position.

Midfielder Shonanur Rahman gave the home side, Sheikh Jamal, the lead in the 37th minute with a header on a corner from Shakil Ahmed.

The hosts held on to the lead for 40 minutes before Emery Bayisenge equalised for Saif in the 76th minute, scoring from the spot after Jamal Bhuyan’s corner kick hit Sheikh Jamal midfielder Mazharul Islam on the hand inside the box.

Saif thought they had nicked all three points when Asror Gafurov scored one minute into stoppage time with a fine solo effort. But another penalty – this time Sohan’s shot hitting Saif defender Abid Ahmed on the hand inside the box – came to Sheikh Jamal’s rescue as Vali Jonov Otabek made no mistake from 12 yards out.

The draw saw Saif move to 34 points from 19 matches in third position while Sheikh Jamal were just behind them, level on points but having an inferior goal difference. Both teams are 14 points behind league leaders Bashundhara Kings.

With this fixture, the top-tier professional league of the country went into a five-day break for the Eid-ul-Azha.